Rising teenage star Alina Korneeva produced a spectacular effort on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the WIPHOLD International, a $60,000 prize-money tournament in Pretoria.
Korneeva, who won the Australian Open junior title earlier this year, defeated second seed Chloe Paquet 6-4, 6-4 to secure one of the biggest victories of her promising career.
"It was a very tough battle because it was so important to do the break," said the rising Russian star.
"Both of us were very good at the serve but I'm so happy I could do it, and I'm already thinking about tomorrow's match."
Meanwhile, top speed Raluca Georgiana Serban of Serbia defeated Italian qualifier Dalila Spiteri 6-2, 6-2 to keep her title hopes alive.
She will face fifth seed Ipek Oz in the next round after beating another teenager, Sofia Costoulas of Belgium, 7-6, 6-1.
Hungarian player Timea Babos and Spanish partner Georgina Garcia-Perez won their doubles match 6-3, 6-3 against the Belgian pairing of Ciara Vlasselaer and Tilwith di Girolami.
Babos has now progressed to the singles quarterfinals and the doubles semifinals.
"I think I have found my rhythm a bit and I'm getting used to the conditions," Babos said.
"It wasn't easy, but our goal is to play better and better. I'm just happy with the way things are turning out."
SECOND ROUND RESULTS
SINGLES
[1] Raluca Georgiana Serban (CYP) bt [Q] Dalila Spiteri (ITA) 6-2, 6-2
[4] Sachia Vickery (USA) bt Georgina Garcia-Perez 6-0, 7-5
[5] Ipek Oz (TUR) bt Sofia Costoulas (BEL) 7-6(10), 6-1
Lulu Sun (SUI) bt Clara Vlasselaer (BEL) 6-3, 7-6(3)
Babos Timea (HUN) bt Alice Tubello (FRA) 6-1, 7-5
[Q] Alina Korneeva (RUS) bt [2] Chloe Paquet (FRA) 6-4, 6-4
Emina Bektas (USA) bt Alice Robbe (FRA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
[Q] Leonard Manon (FRA) bt Lina Glushko (ISR) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
QUARTERFINAL ROUND RESULTS
DOUBLES
[2] Timea Babos (HUN) and Georgina Garcia-Perez (ESP) bt Tilwith Di Girolami (BEL) and Clara Vlasselaer (BEL) 6-3, 6-3
Mai Hontama (JPN) and Alice Tubello (FRA) bt [1] Valentini Grammatikopoulou and Anastasia Zakharova 1-6, 6-4, 10 -8
Sofia Costoulas (BEL) and Dalila Spiteri (ITA) bt Lina Glushko (ISR) and Emina Bektas (USA) WALKOVER