Tennis great Venus Williams survived a scare before beating little-known Austrian Yvonne Meusburger in three sets to reach the quarter-finals at the Auckland Classic.
Williams lost the first set to the 30-year-old journeywoman, who was looking assured against her highly fancied opponent, Meusburger forcing the seven-times grand slam champion to draw on all of her experience to grind out the 4-6 6-3 6-2 victory.
The American veteran will face the impressive Spanish 20-year-old Garbine Muguruza in the quarter-finals. Muguruza beat Canadian qualifier Sharon Fichman in three sets on the outer courts.
Fellow tournament drawcard Ana Ivanovic needed just 43 minutes to demolish Swede Johanna Larson on centre court, the Serb second seed winning 6-1 6-1. Ivanovic now plays Kurumi Nara, who thrashed her Japanese compatriot Ayumi Morita 6-0 6-1 almost as quickly, Nara taking almost 52 minutes to reach the last eight.
Another Japanese, the qualifier Sachie Ishizu, eliminated German Julia Goerges in three sets to book her match against third-seeded Belgian Kirsten Flipkens, who beat 21-year-old Czech Karolina Pliskova in straight sets
It was also routine progress for fifth-seeded American Jamie Hampton, who brushed aside another Czech, the qualifier Kristyna Pliskova - the twin sister of Kristyna. Hampton will face fellow American Lauren Davis next, after Davis beat teenage Croatian wildcard Ana Konjuh in three sets.
