To make her third semifinal of the year, Madinah Garrigues will have to overcome Czech Lucie Hradecka, who swept aside Monica Niculescu of Romania 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday.

Seventh-seeded Agnes Szavay of Hungary, fresh from winning her hometown Budapest title, eliminated Czech Iveta Benesova 6-1, 7-5 to set up a meeting with Slovenia's Polona Hercog, who advanced after second-seeded Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania withdrew with a knee injury before their match.

Top-seeded Czech Lucie Safarova withdrew with a thigh injury on Wednesday.

Patty Schnyder of Switzerland advanced to the quarters with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Alize Cornet of France.
 

In Bastad, Sweden, second-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain has cruised into the quarterfinals of the Swedish Open by beating Stephane Robert of France 6-1, 6-1.

The left-handed Spaniard played his first match in the tournament Thursday after getting a bye in the first round. He's set to meet fifth-seeded Tommy Robredo on the red clay Friday. Two-time champion Robredo defeated Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.