Top seed Monica Seles beat fifth-seeded Anna Smashnova 6-3 6-2 to book her place in the semi-finals of the Madrid Open.

The American will play Argentine Paola Suarez in Friday's semi-final at the Club de Campo sports centre.

In the other last-four match, America's Chanda Rubin will meet Colombian Fabiola Zuluaga.

Seles started cautiously against her Israeli opponent but from 4-3 up she claimed the next five games to win the first set and take a lead 3-0 in the second set.

She eventually wrapped up the match in 55 minutes.

Meanwhile Rubin - a three-time singles winner on tour - knocked out Magui Serna, the last Spaniard in the tournament, 6-3 6-3.

In the other quarter-finals, Suarez eliminated fellow Argentine Clarisa Fernandez 6-4 7-5 and Zuluaga, a Madrid open finalist two years ago, defeated Emilie Loit, of France, 4-6 6-0 7-5.

Quarter-final results from the Spanish Open:
(1) Monica Seles (US) bt (5) Anna Smashnova (Isr) 6-3 6-2
Chanda Rubin (US) bt Magui Serna 6-3 6-3
Paola Suarez (Arg) bt Clarisa Fernandez (Arg) 6-4 7-5
Fabiola Zuluaga (Col) bt Emilie Loit (Fra) 4-6 6-0 7-5

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