BEIJING (AFP) - Former No. 1 and fourth seed Karolina Pliskova became the latest high-profile casualty at the China Open on Thursday, going out in the third round to unseeded Sorana Cirstea.

Cirstea follows fellow Romanian Simona Halep into the quarter-finals, after second seed Halep sent Maria Sharapova packing on Wednesday.

Cirstea, ranked 44 in the world, stunned the Czech Pliskova 6-1, 7-5 on Beijing's outdoor hard courts to surge into the last eight. She will play home hope Peng Shuai or Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko, the Roland Garros champion.

World No. 2 Garbine Muguruza and reigning champion Agnieszka Radwanska are both out to leave world No. 2 Halep the favourite in the Chinese capital.

Also into the quarters is Caroline Garcia, who defeated French compatriot Alize Cornet 6-2, 6-1.

Garcia is in red-hot form after winning the Wuhan Open title on Saturday.