Second seed Elise Mertens' Hobart International defence continues to gather steam with the Belgian earning a straight-sets passage to the quarter-finals.
World No.36 Mertens traded breaks with plucky Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia in Tuesday's second set but prevailed 6-4 6-4 in typically windy weather.
The 21-year-old managed just 55 per cent of first serves for the match but held her nerve from the baseline in the bigger points.
"With the forehand, she was dictating. In the end it was a really tough match," Mertens said.
Mertens had a stunning run at the 2017 event, coming from qualifying and No.127 in the world to lift the trophy in a breakthrough season.
"There's pressure you put on yourself. But for now I'm just feeling free," she said.
"I know I can play a good level and I feel confident here, coming back - this is where it all happened.
"Of course it's on your mind to defend a title."
Mertens would become the first player to claim a second Hobart title if she can string another three wins together.
She'll face last year's runner-up Monica Niculescu or American Varvara Lepchenko for a semi-final berth.
Mertens is the only seed left in her half of the draw and one of just three remaining in the tournament.
Sixth seed Irina-Camelia Begu and eighth seed Katerina Siniakova on Tuesday joined fourth seed Alize Cornet and third seed Sorana Cirstea as opening-round casualties.
Mertens has been joined in the last eight by Cornet-conqueror Romanian Mihaela Muzarnescu and Ukraine's Leisa Tsurenko.
Muzarnescu backed up her round-one upset by defeating Germany's Anna-Lena Friedsam 7-5 6-4, while Tsurenko beat Yulia Putintseva 6-3 6-2 in the last match of the day.
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