Maria Sharapova moved into the semi-finals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix as the former world number one continued her controversial return to competitive tennis with a 6-3 6-4 win over Estonian qualifier Anett Kontaveit.
The Russian, a wildcard entry for the tournament in Stuttgart, tested positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open and saw her original two-year ban reduced on appeal to a 15-month suspension.
Sharapova, though, has not let the furore unsettle her game, which once again proved too much for Kontaveit and kept the 30-year-old, who is yet to drop a set, on course for qualifying at the French Open.
Elsewhere on Friday, Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic defeated Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3 6-2 to secure her place in the semi-finals against Sharapova.
World number five Simona Halep proved far too strong for Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia, taking just under an hour to record a convincing 6-3 6-1 victory, while wild card Laura Siegemund beat Karolina Pliskova 7-6 (7/3) 5-7 6-3.
At the Istanbul Cup in Turkey, number three seed Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania battled past home player Basak Eraydin 2-6 7-6 (7/5) 6-1 to make the semi-finals.
Top seed Elina Svitolina joined her with a 6-4 6-4 win over Sorana Cirstea of Romania, while there were also wins for Jana Cepelova who beat Dayana Yastremska 2-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-4, and Elise Mertens, who beat Cagla Buyukakcay of Turkey 6-4 4-6 6-2.
Source: PA
