Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 3 March 2017 | Reuters/tennis.com.au

Australian Ash Barty has cruised into the quarterfinals of the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.

Barty, ranked 158th in the world as she continues her comeback on the WTA tour, has easily accounted for Japan’s Miyu Kato 6-0 6-3 in the second round.

After producing five aces and winning more than 80 per cent of points on her first serve in beating Kato, she will face 131st-ranked Kai-Lin Zhang of China in the last eight.

.@AshBar96 books a spot in @alyawtamo Quarterfinals!

Races past Kato 6-0, 6-3! pic.twitter.com/Muq7rPmwBL

— WTA (@WTA) March 2, 2017

This is the second time the Queenslander has reached this stage in Malaysia, doing so at the same tournament in 2013 to notch her first WTA-level quarterfinal.

This year, she won two matches via qualifying and took her winning streak to four after thumping Kato in just 58 minutes.

Returning to court later on Thursday in doubles, she and compatriot Casey Dellacqua beat Nao Hibino and Varatchaya Wongteanchai 6-4 6-0 to advance to the semifinals.

The singles tournament is wide open following the withdrawal of No.1 seed Elina Svitolina and losses for second and third seeds Carla Suarez Navarro and Caroline Garcia respectively.