Photo's from the second round of the 2017 Dubai Womens Tennis Championship.

Fifth seed, Garbiñe Muguruza, eyeing up the ball at the start of the first match on centre court.


Up against Muguruza was Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine.


Muguruza following up with a slicing backhand.


Bondarenko powering up with a strong serve to Muguruza.


Muguruza coming back with another strong backhand. The 23 year old is currently ranked #7 in the world.


Bondarenko fighting back. Although she only had a world #67 ranking, she was proving a tough opponent for Muguruza.


Muguruza serving at the start of the second game. Muguruz was born in Caracas, has dual Venezuelan-Spanish nationality and represents Spain in tennis.


Bondarenko keeping up the pressure.


Muguruza with a big forehand.


A confident Bondarenko about to unleash a powerful back hand.


Leaping across to return another shot from Bondarenko.


Sizing up another return to Muguruza.


Muguruza struggled against the dominant Ukrainian.


Another big forehand from Bondarenko.


Muguruza was a semi-finalist in the 2014 French Open.


Unfortunately Muguruza was struggling with an ankle injury, and had to withdraw near the end of the first set at 4-1 to Bondarenko.


France's Kristina Mladenovic at the start of the the second match of the day.


Facing off against the French number one was Karolína Plíšková from the Czech Republic.


Mladenovic with an aggressive forehand.


Mladenovic is currently ranked number 14 in the world.


Plíšková positioning for a big backhand.


Mladenovic easily dominated the first set.


1.84m tall Mladenovic with a well controlled backhand.


World #3 Plíšková spooling up for an ace against Mladenovic.


Mladenovic reaching out for a return. Mladenovic handily won the first set 6-2.


1.86m tall Plíšková trying to fight back in the second set.


Although representing France, Mladenovic is currently resident in Dubai.


Plíšková keeping up with a big forehand.


Mladenovic continued to dominate the World #3 however.


Plíšková with another two-handed backhand.


Although Plíšková put up a much tougher fight in the second set, Mladenovic kept her composure and fought back equally hard.


Plíšková trying to find a crack in Mladenovic's aggressive defense and offense.


Mladenovic showed no signs of tiring in the Dubai heat though.


Victorius after winning the second and final set, 6-4.


Adding her signature to the camera at the end of a great and very entertaining second match.


After a short break the third match began just after 7pm. Current World #1, Angelique Kerber of Germany.


Up against Kerber was 1.85m tall Mona Barthel, also from Germany.


Winner last year of both the Australian and US Opens, Kerber put on an amazing dispay of skill and power.


Despite ranked a much lower #47, Barthel put up a good fight but could not keep her opponent back with Kerber winning the first set 6-4.


Left-handed Kerber with a strong forehand.


Despite the setback, Barthel kept up the pressure during the second set.


Kerber firing back with another big forehand.


And won the second set and match, 6-4, 6-3.


The World #1 being interviewed at the end of her well earned win on centre court.


23 year old Zheng Saisai of China at the start of the final match of the evening.


Saisai's opponent tonight was current World #5 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.


Saisai coming back with a big forehand.


Although the first set was hard fought, Svitolina prevailed 7-5.


Saisai getting ready with her backhand.


The superior skill and power of Svitolina shined through the second set, and she won the match 7-5, 6-1, bringing to an end a fantastic night of world-class tennis!