Williams says she is excited by the "snowball effect" of her recent form

Williams reached the quarter-finals with ease in her fourth event since returning from a wrist injury.

"I've been off so long and I'm eager to play and to get my ranking up - I want to play matches," said Williams.

Second seed Jelena Jankovic also went through with a 6-3 6-0 win over Italy's Mara Santangelo.

But Tatiana Golovin had more of a fight to beat China's Peng Shuai 6-2 4-6 6-3.

Williams, ranked 29th in the world, will take on Anabel Medina Garrigues in the last eight after the Spaniard defeated eighth seed Li Na of China 6-4 7-5.

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World number nine Jankovic needed just 47 minutes to clinch her win, losing only six points in the second set.

"I'm now in the top 10 and I'm just a different player," she said.

"I really don't have to prove anything to anybody, but all I want is just to enjoy my game."

Fourth seed Dinara Safina won in straight sets, defeating Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain, 6-2 6-2, while Michaella Krajicek overcame Austria's Sybille Bammer 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 6-1.