Petra Kvitova remains on course for a third successive title at the Connecticut Open after breezing past Ekaterina Makarova to book a semi-final spot.
The fifth-seed, who followed up a 2012 triumph with more success in 2014 and 2015, was too strong for the Russian, winning the quarter-final 6-3 6-1 in exactly one hour, showcasing a brutal display of forehand hitting.
She will now face the toughest examination of her title defence, though, as top seed Agnieszka Radwanksa waits in the last four.
The Pole made her way through to the semi-finals with a clinical display against an under-the-weather Kirsten Flipkens, winning 6-1 6-4.
The winner of that tie will surely fancy their chances of getting their hands on the silverware in New Haven as second seed Roberta Vinci was sent crashing in the other half of the draw.
The Italian slumped to a 7-6 (9/7) 6-1 loss to Swede Johanna Larsson, who will now meet Elina Svitolina in the last four after the Ukrainian beat Russian Elena Vesnina 6-3 6-1.
Source: PA
