Defending champion Jelena Jankovic became the latest big-name player to crash out of the Keremlin Cup after she lost 6-4 6-3 to Alisa Kleybanova in the quarter-finals in Moscow.

The second seeded Serb at least had the consolation of knowing she had already qualified for next week's season-ending WTA Championships as Vera Zvonareva, the top seed for the Moscow tournament, slumped to an embarrassing defeat to Bulgarian qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova earlier in the week.

Zvonareva was humiliated 6-0 6-2 in the second round clash, allowing Jankovic to take her place in next week's action.

Kleybanova plays Olga Govortsova of Belarus in the semi-finals after she emerged victorious against Vera Dushevina 6-3 6-0.

Eighth seed Francesca Schiavone of Italy beat Russia's Maria Kirilenko 6-3 6-2 and now faces Alona Bondarenko who defeated Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria 6-3 6-3.