Andrea Hlavackova ousted second-seeded Czech compatriot Lucie Safarova 7-6 (7/1), 7-5 on Thursday to reach her first career WTA quarter-final at the $220,000 Quebec City Challenge.
Hlavackova, ranked 103, booked a last-eight date with sixth seed Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, also from the Czech Republic, who ousted Mirjana Lucic of Croatia 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Hlavackova claimed her first Grand Slam doubles crown in June at the French Open, teaming up with compatriot Lucie Hradecka.
New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic upset US seventh seed Irina Falconi 6-3, 2-6, 6-2. Erakovic advanced to a Friday meeting with top seeded Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova.
Hantuchova advanced on schedule, rallying for a 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-3 victory over Hungary’s Melinda Czink.
Lucic, a former teen prodigy who turns 30 in March, has not reached a WTA semi-final since Wimbledon in 1999.
She played a limited schedule for almost a decade before making a comeback last year and broke through to the quarter-finals this year at Strasbourg in May and Birmingham in June. Her only WTA titles came at Bol in 1997 and 1998.
