EASTBOURNE, United Kingdom (AFP) - Agnieszka Radwanska relied on a steady serve and a solid game to beat Eugenie Bouchard 6-3, 6-3 in a battle of former Wimbledon finalists for a place in the quarter-finals of the WTA Eastbourne event on Wednesday.
The top-seeded Pole, losing 2015 finalist, improved to a perfect 4-0 over Bouchard, who played for the Wimbledon title two years ago but whose ranking has taken a slide from the top 10 to her current 48th.
"I was serving pretty good, that helps in this kind of match," said world number three Radwanska, who lost early a week ago on Birmingham grass at the start of her Wimbledon run-up campaign.
"In the important moments I was serving good. Every match like this gives you a lot of confidence. It's easier afterwards in the end of the tournament or going to the Grand Slams.
"I'm just very happy with that win and with the game. I was feeling very good on court, conditions were also much nicer than yesterday. You could probably do everything what you wanted to do. I don't think I can really complain about anything today."
Radwanska is competing on the south coast for the 10th time and on Wednesday won in 62 minutes as she dominated her Canadian opponent.
She next faces 12th seed Dominika Cibulkova, a winner over Kateryna Bondarenko 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, and who came from a break down in the opening set.
Qualifier Monica Puig defeated 2009 champion Caroline Wozniacki 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Puig, from Puerto Rico and ranked 43rd in the world, battled through a two-and-a-quarter-hour contest against the former number one.
The 22-year-old Puig double-faulted on her first of two match points but completed the job at Devonshire Park in style with an eighth ace.
"Finishing with an ace is the best way to go. I hope I can keep this up. I'm excited for the next round and ready for whatever comes up," said Puig.
"I thought I was in trouble quite a few times. She makes you work for every single point, so it was really up to me to stay very focused in my game plan and what I wanted to accomplish.
"It was a really tight match and I'm just really happy I got through. I stayed with my game plan the whole way. I was just extremely positive throughout the match."
Wozniacki, 37 in the world, who missed the clay season with an ankle injury, had reached the semi-final in her last three appearances.
"You don't climb Mount Everest in one day," she said. "I played really well. I'm happy with that. The ankle, the body's feeling good. I'm pleased with that."
Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, was upset by Eastbourne local Johanna Konta, who produced a fightback victory over the fifth seed 5-7, 6-4, 6-0.
Russian Elena Vesnina beat Madison Brengle 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.
