 Safina wasted little time in securing a quarter-final place
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World number one Dinara Safina eased past Daniela Hantuchova to reach the last eight at the Stuttgart Grand Prix.
The Russian, playing in her first event since taking the top ranking, won 6-4 6-2 against Slovakian Hantuchova.
Safina goes on to face Polish eighth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3 6-3.
Second seed Elena Dementieva saw off Agnes Szavay 7-6 (7-4) 6-1, and third seed Jelena Jankovic beat Sabine Lisicki 7-5 5-7 6-3.
"We have had some close matches in the past and I did well today," said Safina, who had lost her three previous meetings to Hantuchova.
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Jankovic fought back from 40-0 down at 3-3 in the third set to win the game and ultimately the match.
"She gave me a hard time," said the Serb after the two hours 13-minute encounter.
"She played really great and she served really well, she was hitting her serves hard - between 180 and 190km/h - and not many girls can do that.
"I am just pleased to have got through the match."
Her reward is a quarter-final against Flavia Pennetta after the Italian beat sixth seed Nadia Petrova 6-2 6-2.
Dementieva will next face Marion Bartoli, who was a surprise 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 winner over seventh seed Caroline Wozniacki.
"I knew she has a great backhand and it is always tough to play Caroline, I have never beaten her before," said Bartoli.
Fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Li Na 4-6 6-4 7-5 to set up a clash with Argentina's Gisela Dulko.
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