Kremlin Cup
Amelie Mauresmo saw off one local favourite in Vera Zvonereva and could face two more Russians if she is to win the title in Moscow.
The second seed from France overcame seventh seed Zvonareva 6-4 3-6 6-2 in a hard-fought quarter-final.
And Mauresmo will take on third seed Elena Dementieva next, after the Russian won her quarter-final when Francesca Schiavone retired trailing 6-1 2-1.
Mauresmo will face Dementieva on the same court in next month's Fed Cup semi-final between Russia and France, but lost their last meeting.
"It will be interesting to play Elena here, especially because she will probably also play singles matches
in Fed Cup," said Mauresmo.
"I lost to her in Toronto and here, of course, it will be doubly tough because the crowd will be pulling for her."
Another Russian, Anastasia Myskina, will be a strong favourite to make the final on the other side of the draw.
Myskina, who beat Justine Henin-Hardenne to win the Sparkassen Cup last week, beat Eleni Daniilidou of Greece 6-3 6-0.
She wil face Israel's Anna Pistolesi, who beat Elena Bovina 6-4 6-4, on Saturday.
Japan Open
Maria Sharapova moved a step closer to her first WTA Tour title with victory over Claudine Schaul of Luxembourg in the quarter-finals in Tokyo.
The 16-year-old Russian stormed through the second set tiebreak 7-1 for a 7-5 7-6 victory.
The Florida-based Sharapova, who is seeded five, will face Zheng Jie in the semi-finals after the Chinese player beat compatriot Yan Zi 7-6 6-3.
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