Top seed Belinda Bencic has withdrawn from the Hong Kong Tennis Open being held at Victoria Park.

The walkover by the Swiss, who is believed to be nursing a problem with a thigh, came ahead of her quarter-final match against Cristina Bucsa of Spain.

Bencic, who returned to the tennis circuit a year ago after giving birth to a daughter, beat Wang Yafan of China 6-2 6-2 in the last 16.

The other quarter-finals on Friday will pit Maya Joint of Australia against Himeno Sakatsume of Japan who beat Eudice Chong of Hong Kong, China 6-2 6-1; Russian Anna Kalinskaya against Victoria Mboko of Canada; and Sorana Cirstea of Romana against 2023 winner Leylah Fernandez of Canada. (Agencies)