Good afternoon and welcome to live game-by-game coverage of Schiavone and Pavlyuchenkova in the opening quarter-final match of the singles in the women's draw.

GAME, SET AND MATCH SCHIAVONE! After two hours and 34 minutes, the Italian player finally comes through the test. A real scrap with match points and break points in that game, but the champion finally gets over the winning line. She completes a 1-6 7-5 7-5 victory.

SCHIAVONE BREAKS! Just when the Russian was looking good to push on, Schiavone comes up with her best form after losing the past four games. Schiavone serves for the match for a third time. Can she finish this one off finally? Surely she will get over the winning line, but we have been here before.

BREAK BACK TO PAVLYUCHENKOVA! A 5-1 lead to Schiavone has become 5-5. Would you believe this? An ace from Schiavone saves one break point, but a return hits the line moments later with Schiavone stranded. All square now.

Pavlyuchenkova stays alive in the match with a timely hold! Can she break for a second time? This would be a seismic change in the match if the Russian pulls this out of the fire. Surely not? Schiavone serves for a second time for the match.

BREAK BACK TO PAVLYUCHENKOVA! Never saw that one coming as Pavlyuchenkova breaks to love to keep alive her faint hopes of a comeback. A couple of poor shots from Schiavone helped the situation, but there was a stunning winner on the run from Pavlyuchenkova that simply oozed class. She remains one break down.

Schiavone two points from the match at 30-30, but Pavlyuchenkova stays alive in the wind with some timely shots from deep. Schiavone will serve for the match and a spot in the semi-finals. Would be tough to bet against her from here.

Schiavone showing off her tenacity. Bludgeons a forehand across court for a 5-1 lead in this deciding set. Pavlyuchenkova has gradually wilted in the face of this Schiavone revival. Pavlyuchenkova must serve to stay alive in this match. Two breaks down.

BREAK TO SCHIAVONE! Looking all over bar the shouting out there. Tough to see how the young Russian is going to get out of this one without avoiding defeat. All started to go wrong in the second set with Schiavone finding her range. The Italian with two breaks of serve.

BREAK BACK TO PAVLYUCHENKOVA! Fine response from the Russian to get one of the breaks back. A double fault from the Italian gives the teenager some hope in this match, but she remains a break down in this set.

BREAK TO SCHIAVONE! Schiavone utterly dominant. Playing with the sort of freedom that helped her carry off this tournament last year. She is opening her shoulders and the shots are flowing out there. Surely there is no way back for Pavlyuchenkova, who must hold in the fourth game of the set to avoid falling two breaks behind in this set.

Schiavone with 30 unforced errors compared to 23 by Pavlyuchenkova, who is struggling to stifle the momentum of the Italian. Schiavone somehow manages to tease a winner down the line on the run after her opponent was short with an attempted drop shot. Pavlyuchenkova is wide with a forehand seconds later. A 2-0 lead for the Italian.

BREAK TO SCHIAVONE! A stunning start to the opening game of the third set from the champion as she breaks Pavlyuchenkova with a running shot on the backhand that flies beyond the Russian and races in. Schiavone firmly in control now.

GAME AND SET TO SCHIAVONE! Not a huge surprise as Schiavone holds with some ease to snag the game she needs to level at 1-1 in this match. All to play for in this match, but it would be tough to bet against the Italian sealing her progress to the last four. She is looking the stronger player.

BREAK TO SCHIAVONE! Pavlyuchenkova really toiling as Schiavone brings up three break points. An erratic attempt at drop shot sums up the Russian's trials and tribulations. Schiavone making plenty of noises out there and she breaks again as a double fault at 30-40 gives the Italian player a 6-5 lead. She will serve to level at 1-1.

Schiavone throws down a huge ace with the score at 40-30 before another series of thumping ground strokes is good enough to give the Italian a game she had to win. The tide is suddenly turning in this match as Schiavone begins to find her range.

Pavlyuchenkova under all sorts of pressure out there from her more experienced opponent, but she keeps herself together to move ahead by the odd game in nine aided by that trademark heavy hitting. Schiavone will serve to stay alive in the match.

Schiavone arguing with the umpire after she was foot faulted. She is not a happy lady, but Pavlyuchenkova dumps a backhand into the net to level at 15-15. The score reaches deuce, but Schiavone drops a lovely little shot over the net to bring the score to 4-4 in this set. Schiavone has really come to life. Pavlyuchenkova has to steel herself here.

SCHIAVONE BREAKS! At the sixth time of asking, the Italian finally makes the breakthrough. Was a long time coming as the game ebbed and flowed from deuce before the fifth seed finally breaks Pavlyuchenkova's resistance. We are back on serve with the Russian serving here.

Schiavone keeping Pavlyuchenkova honest by making her serve this match out. A far better service game from the fifth seed. Not over yet as the Russian serves.

Pavlyuchenkova heading for the semi-finals unless there is a massive shift change in this match. Schiavone suffering the type of day every player dreads. Mistiming the ball and the young Russian is swarming all over the ball. She needs two games for a place in the last four.