PHILADELPHIA. Nov 10: After surviving a close call in her opening match, top seed Steffi Graf

appears to have regained her form with an easy quarterfinal victory over unseeded American Meredith McGrath at the Advanta Championships on Thursday, reports Reuter.

The world number one needed less than an hour to breeze to a 6-3, 6-2 win that put her into Saturday's semifinals.

The German star, who has claimed three Grand Slam titles this year despite struggling through injuries and personal problems, never faced a break "point against McGrath, who had upset eighth seed Chanda Rubin in the second round.

"It was a very different match than the other day."

said Graf, who pulled out a 2-6. 6-4. 6-2 second-round win over American Amy Frazier Tuesday after a first-round bye.

"I've really had a long break this year while everyone else has been playing," said Graf, who came to Philadelphia having played Just one match since her US Open victory in early September.

"I’m used to having a lot of preparation for a tournament. I'm not used to long breaks." she continued. "I need to feel in shape and ready. I’ve been, missing that all year long."

That was not apparent Thursday as Graf smashed winners from the baseline almost at will. She jumped out to a 3-0 first-set lead and won five successive games to close the match.

"It helps a lot to start off well." Graf said.

In second-round play, Romania's Irina Spirlea kept

alive her slim hopes of qualifying for the sedson-ending WTA Tour Championships by upsetting ninth seed Natasha Zvereva of Belarus 6-2, 1-6, 6-1.

Spirlea, who next faces veteran American Zina Garrison-Jackson In the quarterfinals. must reach the final to claim a berth In next week's 16-player season finale.

Unfortunately for the promising Romanian. Graf looms large between her and a place in the final.

Seventh-seeded German Anke Huber, who has already nailed down a berth In the WTA Tour Championships, shook off a slow start against Swiss teenager Martina Hingis to claim a place in the quarterfinals with a 2-6. 6-1. 6-2 victory.

"I was asleep the first set," said Huber, who next faces fourth seed Gabriela Sabatini. "It took me until the second set to wake up."