Cincinnati, OH, USA, 18 August 2016 | tennis.com.au/AAP

Daria Gavrilova has powered her way through to the third round of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.

Gavrilova brushed aside 17th seed Elina Svitolina 6-2 6-2.

The Australian qualifier has now won four matches in a row – two in qualifying, two in the main draw – to take her place in the last 16, where she will face No.3 seed Simona Halep.

Meanwhile, 14th-seeded Aussie Sam Stosur fell to Barbora Strycova.

The Czech, fresh off claiming bronze in women’s doubles with Lucie Safarova at the Rio 2016 Games, came through a titanic first set tiebreak to win 7-6(11) 6-3.

After holding her serve throughout the first set, Stosur was broken twice in the second while only breaking back once to lose the match in just under two hours.