Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka each came from a set down as they geared up their respective Australian Open preparations at the Auckland Classic and the Brisbane International.
Williams needed two hours to overcome compatriot Christina McHale 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 amid blustery conditions, dropping four of the first five games before hitting her stride.
"I got myself in a hole and I was able to get out of it, so that was satisfying," said Williams, who will face Laura Siegemund in the quarterfinals after the experienced German similarly beat Coco Gauff in three sets.
"I just got mad, and honestly, I said that I wanted to win more than one match here in New Zealand. I thought about that and sometimes it's the craziest things that get you motivated."
Caroline Wozniacki, who is into the doubles semifinals as Williams' partner in Auckland, came through a topsy-turvy encounter to beat Lauren Davis 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.
A dominant opening set from Wozniacki, where Davis was unable to hold serve, was not indicative of the absorbing back-and-forth that followed.
"I got a little lucky in the end and it could have gone both ways," the 29-year-old, who will retire after Melbourne, said.
Julia Goerges is up next for Wozniacki and enjoyed a more straightforward 6-3, 6-2 win over Jil Teichmann.
World number one Ash Barty's first singles match of 2020 ended with American qualifier Jennifer Brady prevailing 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) at the Brisbane International, where Osaka was facing a similar fate after dropping a tie-break in the opener of her match against Sofia Kenin.
The defending Australian Open champion stormed back to take the contest 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-1 and will face Kiki Bertens – a 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 winner over Anett Kontaveit.
Petra Kvitova made light work of Liudmila Samsonova, dropping only five games in a straight-sets victory, while number two seed Karolina Pliskova sowed more disappointment for the home crowd by beating Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1 to set up a quarterfinal against Alison Riske.
Pliskova's twin Kristyna rounded out the quarter-final action at the Shenzhen Open with a 6-4, 6-4 win against Kateryna Bondarenko.
She will face Elena Rybakina, who beat third seed Elise Mertens 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, while Garbine Muguruza and Ekaterina Alexandrova came through three-setters against Zarina Diyas and Wang Qiang respectively to reach the other semifinal.
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