Safina is one of only four seeded players left in the tournament

World number one Dinara Safina overcame unseeded Czech Lucie Safarova 6-0 4-6 6-3 to book her place in the quarter-final of the Madrid Masters.

The top seed looked set for a routine victory after strolling through the first set, but the match proved far from straightforward.

Safina twice lost serve in the second set but managed to rally in the third.

Fourth seed Jelena Jankovic is also through to the last eight after a 6-2 6-2 win over Russian Elena Vesnina.

So far 12 of the tournament's 16 seeds have fallen but Safina ensured her name would not be added to the list by digging deep to see off the gutsy challenge of Safarova.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Safina's victory

She rallied to grab a crucial break in the sixth game of the decider and wrapped up the win when Czech Safarova sent a return over the baseline on the second match point.

"I started very well, very aggressive, but then I just stopped and let her back in," said Safina.

"All I can take from the match is how I played in the first set, which is how I should play all the time. I hope I play two sets like that in my next match."

She now faces Alona Bondarenko on Friday for a place in the last four after the Ukrainian beat Russian Anna Chakvetadze 6-0 2-6 6-3 earlier on Thursday.

Former world number one Jankovic showed signs of a return to her best with a straightforward win over Vesnina.

The Serb wrapped up the win by breaking her opponent for the sixth time in the match.

She will now play Patty Schnyder of Switzerland on Friday for a place in the semi-final.

Seventh seed Agnes Szavay of Hungary is also into the last eight after beating Belarusian Victoria Azarenka 4-6 6-2 6-2.

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