Petra Martic and Anett Kontaveit set up a Palermo Ladies Open semi-final clash with hard-fought wins on Friday.
Top seed Martic battled past qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-3) in their quarter-final.
The Croatian converted four of seven break points and saved seven of 11 to advance at the WTA International event, which marks the first tournament back after the coronavirus-enforced break.
Martic will meet Kontaveit, who beat teenage wildcard Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-1 4-6 6-1.
She’s into her first semifinal of the year!
— wta (@WTA) August 7, 2020
Anett Kontaveit defeats Cocciaretto 6-1, 4-6, 6-1.#PLO20 pic.twitter.com/V0yRR8h8ul
Unseeded pair Camila Giorgi and Fiona Ferro will meet in the other semi-final.
Giorgi got past seventh seed Dayana Yastremska 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 after saving two match points, while Ferro brushed past Italian veteran Sara Errani 6-4 6-1.