Iga Swiatek saved two match points to defeat Barbora Krejcikova 3-6 7-6(5) 7-5 to reach the last eight in Rome.
The defending Roland Garros champion battled and clawed to victory in 2 hours and 52 minutes after saving two match points.
Swiatek will now play the winner of the match between Garbine Muguruza and Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals tomorrow.
A summary of the match would be a lot of errors and tentative play throughout as the Pole was too aggressive in the opening set allowing a lot of unforced errors into her game.
Meanwhile Krejcikova was solid but was aggressive with the right angles in the right moments.
This proved crucial for the Czech Republican as she took advantage of Iga’s inability to produce first serves.
A crucial hold at 4-2 was enough for Krejcikova as there were six breaks of serve in the opening set. A long ninth game ended with the Czech taking the set 6-3.
In the second set it was more of the same with Swiatek as she was not able to produce her best tennis.
After going down an early break, Swiatek knew she had to build the points up slowly and gain her confidence. This is what occurred as she got the break back immediately and started to hold serve more comfortably.
Even though the world number 15 looked more confident with her shots and started to construct points better she could not successfully get into Krejcikova’s service games.
Towards the end of the set Swiatek saved two match points as this dramatic contest went to a second set tiebreak.
Swiatek’s mini-break lead was reduced but her fighting spirit was not as Krejcikova felt the pressure and a double fault from her gave the Pole a lifeline as she forced a deciding set.
After spending the change of ends being emotional, Swiatek regained similar form in the final set with her drop-shots being effective.
Krejcikova held nerve of her own as she continued to force the Pole to make unforced errors and just be as solid as she could be.
Swiatek saved three break points in the seventh game to lead 4-3 and then pounced in the 12th game with some heavy returns to take the match and move into the last eight.
Next for the Pole after a mammoth clash will be Garbine Muguruza or Elina Svitolina as she climbs into a new career ranking of 14 in the world.
In other results today Coco Gauff knocked out Madrid Champion Aryna Sabalenka 7-5 6-3 for one of the best wins of her career.
The vibrant American faces world number one Ash Barty who continued her amazing season with with a 6-3 6-3 win over Veronika Kudermetova.
