Andreescu downs Buzarnescu to advance to quarterfinals at Mexican Open

ACAPULCO, Mexico – Canadian Bianca Andreescu advanced to the quarterfinals at the Mexican Open on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., defeated Romania’s Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-2, 7-5 in second-round play.

Andreescu, ranked No. 71, needed one hour 44 minutes to beat the No. 31-ranked Buzarnescu.

Andreescu won 68 per cent of her first-service points and saved 5-of-7 break points while breaking Buzarnescu five times on 10 chances.

She will face China’s Saisai Zheng in the quarterfinal round.

Zheng, ranked No. 40, downed Hungary’s Timea Babos 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the quarters.

Andreescu, Canada’s top-ranked women’s player, has risen up the standings at a remarkable pace early into this season.

She won the Oracle Challenger in California two weeks ago for her first career WTA title. She was No. 152 in late December.