Mel and Sarah are seeded to meet in the quarters of the La Coruna 25K. Both won their first round encounters in straight sets. Sarah eased through 6-4, 6-4 against a 17 year old Spanish wildcard ranked in the 800s. Mel came through a potentially tricky match 6-2, 6-4 against another Spaniard Estrella Canbeza-Candela who made a 25K quarters two weeks ago.

Both have tricky rd2 matches. Sarah plays the Aussie Emily Hewson, who saved match points in a 3rd set breaker against India's Tara Iyer in rd1. Hewson is ranked 314 and made the semis of Felixstowe last week, beating Emily Webley-Smith, Naomi Broady and Mel all in 3 sets. She's a counter-puncher, but does have a very attackable second serve.

Mel faces Antonella Serra-Zanetti, the ball machine from Italy who was as high as no 60 back in 2006. She's now languishing down at 364 after a run of bad form and injuries. Has made the semis of two 25Ks this year and is always a tough opponent on slow surfaces.

Been raining quite a bit over there this week, not good, will slow the courts down more

I think so Vik, when it's sunny the hard courts always quicken up and the ball flies through the air faster...that's why Henman's done so well in Indian Wells and Cincinatti over the years, the dry heat there suits him down to the ground. When it's damp, things are much slower - remember when Tim played Tursunov in rd1 of Aussie Open 2006, things were really sluggish and Tursunov was able to outhit him from the back

We have an all-British quarter-final !

Sarah bt Emily Hewson (Aus) 6-3, 6-3

Mel bt Serra-Zanetti (Ita) 6-1, 6-3

Really, really impressive results from both girls, I thought both matches were going to be really close...great stuff particularly on slow courts where someone like Serra-Zanetti is so difficult beause she's so consistent

Yess fantastic results for them both to come through against what was potentially very tricky opponents, I think mel will just come through in 3 sets in my opinion, whoever wins it is a great chance for her to go on and win the title!

Great to see both girls doing well.
Mel seems to be getting her form back of late
and should get back inside the top 200

Mel beat Sarah 4-2 ret

Neuza SILVA (POR) (4) defeated Melanie SOUTH (GBR) (2) 7-6(5) 1-6 6-4

Poor Mel - seems like it was a close contest. However she can take a lot of positives away from this week as she seems to have refound her form.