Top seed Maria Sharapova battled past Mary Pierce to claim her place in the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters. Sharapova, who will take over as the world number one if she wins in Italy, claimed a 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 victory in exactly two hours.
"It would be an amazing feeling to be number one, but I'll just be taking one match at a time," she said.
Defending champion Amelie Mauresmo also reached the last eight with a 6-4 6-3 win over 13th seed Silvia Farina Elia.
Mauresmo saved two match points on her way to victory over the same opponent in last year's competition but enjoyed an easier passage this time around.
Mauresmo was joined in the last eight by Vera Zvonareva and Patty Schnyder.
Sixth seed Zvonareva beat qualifier Catalina Castano 6-1 5-7 6-2 while Schnyder defeated Ana Ivanovic 6-3 6-2.
"It wasn't a very pretty match for us or for the spectators," admitted Mauresmo, who is looking to reach her fifth Rome final in six years.
"You can't always play at 100% but you have to win these matches anyway."
MMIX
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