Petrova will play Elena Dementieva in the last eight after her compatriot delivered a sure-footed performance to see off South African qualifier Chanelle Scheepers 6-1 6-3.

BBC: Venus Williams tumbles out of French Open

In other first round action, eighth-seeded Australian Samantha Stosur edged past Argentine Gisela Dulko 7-6 7-5 and 16th seed Nadia Petrova beat Russian compatriot Elena Vesnina 4-6 6-2 6-3.

BBC: Defending champion Safina suffers shock Madrid exit

Petrova won her first-round tie against compatriot Elena Vesnina, triumphing 4-6 6-2 6-3, while Chinese 13th seed Li Na beat Spain's Beatriz Garcia Vidagany 6-0 6-2 to set up a clash with Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova.

CNN: Serena survives epic in Madrid opener