Katie Boulter recorded her seventh straight win on the WTA Tour as Camila Osorio withdrew from the Merida Open match.
The British number three arrived in Mexico with the Ostrava Open victory in his heart and overcame serving issues to defeat Beatriz Haddad Maia in the opening match.
The 29-year-old vaulter took the first set 6-3, but Colombian Osorio called for a physio and refused to continue.
The win advances Boulter to the final eight, where she will face either top seed Jasmine Paolini or Australia’s Priscilla Hong.
“Obviously, we really don’t want to see women getting hurt. It’s been so hard lately. I’ve seen a lot of people get hurt and I’ve been through it myself, so I know how hard it is,” Boulter said in a courtside interview.
“It’s really not fun, so I wish her all the best. I hope to see her in Indian Wells next week. I hope it’s a small thing.”
He added: “Of course I love playing in front of a lot of people, so it’s really nice to have everyone here supporting the tournament. I’m really happy to be able to come out here and play more matches.”
Boulter enters the tournament with Ostrava Open championship under his belt
Jones suffers first round loss in Austin
At the ATX Open in Austin, Britain’s Fran Jones was eliminated in the first round as Peyton Stearns recovered from a set down to win a close match.
Home favorite Stearns wobbled the first three games, but Jones won the next seven games to take the first set and hold at the start of the second.
But the 25-year-old began to struggle with her serve and was broken in six of her last seven service games as Stearns cruised to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory.
It was Jones’ first match since the Australian Open, where he withdrew from his first match with a leg injury and left the court in tears.
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