MONTERREY, Mexico – Top seed and World No.1 Angelique Kerber reached her fourth quarterfinal of 2017 on Thursday, closing out the night session and a big-hitting Mandy Minella, 6-1, 6-3 at the Abierto GNP Seguros.

“It was a good match from me,” she said after the match. “I played very well, and was able to play aggressively from the first point. I enjoyed the match tonight.”

Crafty lob from @AngeliqueKerber! ? pic.twitter.com/vCBZcBAeTc

— WTA (@WTA) April 7, 2017

Minella has enjoyed a stellar start to the season, reaching the semifinals at the Taiwan Open and earning an impressive win over Kristyna Pliskova at the Miami Open, but came up against a firing Kerber in Monterrey.

The German dropped just three points behind her first serve and didn’t face a break point all match, converting four of the eight she earned on the reigning Bol Open winner.

Kerber has slowly recovered from a tough first quarter, reaching the semifinals at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and the quarterfinals in Miami, and is still looking for her first title of the year.

Up next for World No.1 is defending champion Heather Watson, who enjoyed a strong win over Ekaterina Makarova, 6-4, 6-1, earlier in the day.

Just too good from @AngeliqueKerber ? ? pic.twitter.com/My4Mjv1H4O

— WTA (@WTA) April 7, 2017

“I think it’ll be a good match; she won here last year and is the defending champion, so she knows the court and venue.

“I think I’ll have to play like today, play my game. I’m looking forward to playing against her.”

.@AngeliqueKerber races past Minella 6-1, 6-3!

Sets @Abierto_GNP Quarterfinal vs defending champ @HeatherWatson92! pic.twitter.com/hOrRPIwXRj

— WTA (@WTA) April 7, 2017

All photos courtesy of Abierto GNP Seguros.