Tenth seed Caroline Wozniacki she put out teenaged Californian Catherine Bellis 6-3, 6-2 to end the 17-year-old’s run of form which had produced a third-round upset of fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska.

“She came out firing from the start. She had nothing to lose so she just went for it” said 10th-seeded Wozniacki, who has now reached the semi-finals or better in her last six appearances in Dubai.

“I stepped into the court a little bit after being down 3-1 and just tried to keep the pressure on her, make her think a little bit, not give her too many free points. You know, it worked out.”

Wozniacki will now face Anastasija Sevastova of Lativa on Friday.