The 2004 champion toiled for almost two and half hours in 32-degree heat to overcome the 16th seed 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 6-3 and now faces compatriot Elena Dementieva for a place in the semifinals.

Fourth seed Sharapova had been dramatically under-par for most of her Court Two encounter but after taking a lengthy toilet break at the end of the second set she returned with renewed vigour to ease through to the last eight.

By contrast, seventh seed Dementieva made sure of a her place in the last eight with a quickfire 6-2, 6-0 win over Shenay Perry, ending America's interest in both singles competitions.

French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne, seeking an elusive title here to complete her Grand Slam collection, steamrolled the feeble challenge of Slovakian 15th seed Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 6-1 in just 65 minutes.

She next faces French qualifier Severine Bremond who put out Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama, the conqueror of Martina Hingis, 7-6 (13/11), 6-3.

Lleyton Hewitt won a tough battle with David Ferrer to reach the quarterfinals for the fourth time while still finding time to hand his Spanish opponent some unwanted style advice.

The Australian, the 2002 champion, was on Court One for the best part of three hours before finally wrapping up 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 victory, courtesy of a break of serve in the 11th game of the fourth set.

Hewitt duly served out for the match, earning himself a last eight meeting against either Australian Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis or Britain's Andy Murray.

It was a typically gritty performance from Hewitt, who showed his spiky side after being irritated by his opponent's complaints that he was unable to hear a line judge calling a ball out.

The Australian's response was to suggest that the long-haired Spaniard's hearing might be improved by a trip to the hairdresser.