Melanie South's fine run through the Birmingham Classic draw was halted by Belgian teenager Yanina Wickmayer in the quarter-finals.

The 22-year-old Surrey native was beaten by the young Wickmayer 6-4 6-3 on Friday after having ousted fourth seed Sybille Bammer in the previous round.

The world number 85 Wickmayer, who is now her nation's number one after the retirement of Justine Henin, started the match with an ace before saving three break points in the opening game.

The 18-year-old's temper then flared over a series of close line calls that went her rival's way, but ultimately earned a critical break back in the eighth game after South missed an easy shot at the net.

The British number four was then broken a third time in the tenth game to drop the opening set in 43 minutes.

To the delight of the crowd South saved four break points in the sixth game of the second set, but could not repeat the effort again in the eighth game as the Belgian earned the only break of the set.

Nicole Vaidisova, meanwhile, was blasted out of Edgbaston by American Bethanie Mattek, losing their quarter-final 6-3 6-0.

The third seed and former world number seven was bundled out in 52 minutes as her poor run of form continued. Before arriving in Birmingham for the Wimbledon warm-up the Czech had lost in the first round of her previous five tournaments.

Fifth seed Alona Bondarenko from the Ukraine also fell, losing 6-4 7-5 to New Zealand's Marina Erakovic, meaning only one seed has reached the semi-finals.

That honour went to Bondarenko's sister Kateryna, who beat Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic 7-6 6-2.

Reuters / Eurosport