Seles given stern test

Monica Seles plays Serena Williams in the quarter-finals

Monica Seles needed four match points to overcome Sandrine Testud and set up a quarter-final against defending champion Serena Williams in the estyle.com Classic.

The American, who has struggled all season with a foot injury, was on court for more than two hours before completing a 3-6 7-6 6-4 victory over her French opponent in California.

"She and I always play these marathon matches," said Seles, who has beaten Testud seven consecutive times and holds a 9-3 lead in the series.

"Both of us have similar style games and we're both huge competitors."

Seles, the sixth seed, is playing just her third tournament since May.

A stress fracture in her right foot kept her out of the French Open and Wimbledon.

Third-seeded Kim Clijsters of Belgium defeated Alicia Molik of Australia 7-6 (3), 6-3 and will now meet Nathalie Tauziat in the last eight.

Tauziat ran out a 6-0 0-6 6-2 winner over Jelena Dokic while Elena Dementieva of Russia beat Virginie Razzano 6-4 6-4.

Earlier top seed Martina Hingis breezed into the quarter-finals beating Elena Likhovtseva in straight sets.

The Swiss world number one took just 53 minutes to see off her Russian opponent 6-0 6-3 and will now meet twelfth seed Amy Frazier of America.

Defending champion Serena Williams was also in impressive third round form, dismissing Nicole Pratt of Australia in just over an hour.

Fourth seed Williams fired down 13 aces in her 6-3 6-3 victory.