Maria Sharapova overcame her toughest test so far to remain on course for a successful defence of her Wimbledon title, while Amelie Mauresmo also reached the semi-finals.
Sharapova battled past fellow Russian Nadia Petrova 7-6 6-3 to earn a semi-final place after a hard-fought, one hour and 26 minute affair.
The defending champion broke her eighth seeded opponent in the second game of the second set then saved a break point of her own to serve out for the victory.
She said afterwards: "It's so exciting to be back in the semis. I had to go out and play my game. I know she has a really good game so I had to be ready for every shot.
"Finishing off the match was tough, it gave me shivers on my body. It's so good to be back in the semis."
Also today, Amelie Mauresmo secured her place in the semi-finals for the second successive year with a straight-sets win over Anastasia Myskina on Centre Court this afternoon.
The number three seed needed just over an hour to secure a 6-3 6-4 victory to set up a last-four clash with either world number one Lindsay Davenport or Svetlana Kuznetsova, who play later this afternoon.
Mauresmo, who had lost just 15 games in her four matches before today, again used her serve-and-volley game to great effect, which left the 2004 French Open champion with few opportunities to break her rhythm.
