Defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova battled past Timea Babos in three sets to progress to the semi-finals of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow.
Kuznetsova needs to successful defend her title in order to reach the season-ending WTA Finals and she stepped closer to doing so after a 7-5 6-7 (2/7) 6-2 victory over the 23-year-old Hungarian.
The home favourite currently sits in 10th place on the Road to Singapore rankings and is the only person who can overtake Johanna Konta into the last available spot of eighth position following Carla Navarro Suarez's early exit in Moscow.
The Russian will face Ukraine's Elina Svitolina for a place in the final following a stunning 6-1 6-1 victory over Ana Konjuh of Croatia.
The 22-year-old needed just 59 minutes see off Konjuh, breaking her serve five times in the match.
Elsewhere, top seed Petra Kvitova dismantled Sweden's Johanna Larsson to reach the last four of the Luxembourg Open.
She only took 53 minutes to secure a 6-2 6-0 win where she reeled off the last 11 games after going 2-1 down in the opening set.
Holland's Kiki Bertens made the semi-finals after a comprehensive 6-0 6-4 victory over Denisa Allertova.
The third seed won the opening eight games of the match to help her on her way to success who also broke the Czech's service on five occasions.
Source: PA
