Angelique Kerber has marched through to the semi-finals of the Dubai Championships following a 6-4 6-3 win over the Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova.

The match, a replay of the 2016 US Open final won by the 30-year-old German, lasted an hour and a quarter, with Kerber never facing a break point.

Kerber 15th win of the season saw her join world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki as recording the most WTA victories this season.

The world No.9 dropped out of the top 20 last year after struggling for form, but a storming comeback this season - which has seen her reach the Australian Open semi-final and win the Sydney International - has put her back in the top 10.

She next plays top-seeded defending champion Elina Svitolina in a repeat of last season's Dubai semi-final, which Svitolina won.

The Ukrainian booked her semi spot with a 6-2 6-4 win over Japan's Naomi Osaka.

Second-seeded Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza came up a winner. beating No.5 seed Caroline Garcia of France 7-5 6-2, at one point winning 13 points on the trot during the second set.

The Spaniard will play Russia's Daria Kasatkina, who beat veteran compatriot Elena Vesnina 7-6 (7-5) 6-1.