GSTAAD, Switzerland - No.5 seed Samantha Stosur is into the quarterfinals at the Ladies Championships Gstaad by Ixion Services after fighting past wildcard Patty Schnyder in straight sets.

Stosur was a break down in the first set, but she recovered emphatically to notch the 6-4, 6-1 victory and make her way through to her third clay WTA quarterfinal of the season.

“I think I was like 21 the first time I played Patty, the final of Gold Coast [in 2005],” Stosur recalled afterward. “It’s a bit of a surreal feeling to be playing her again. That was actually my first final - it’s nice that we can still be out here competing well.

“Believe it or not, at some point during the match I actually remembered playing her in Gold Coast, which is my home town, and now I’m in her country!”

The pair came into the match with their head-to-head record tied at 2-2, their latest encounter occurring in 2011. A lot has changed for both since that match, which also went to Stosur in two sets - the Aussie had yet to lift the US Open trophy, and Schnyder hadn’t become a mother yet.

Schnyder, who gave birth to her daughter in 2014, returned to WTA action last year in Charleston, ending her 2011 retirement. She started off the match against Stosur on a tear, grabbing an early break to lead 2-0. But Stosur fought her way back into the match with a break straight back.

The Aussie dropped just two points on her serve during the rest of the set, piling the pressure on Schnyder before finally breaking through to grab the opener. It was one-way traffic in the second set as reeled off the first five games of the match to open up a 5-0 lead with a double break. She wrapped up the match in just 61 minutes to book her spot into the quarterfinals.

“This year I’ve been feeling good and staying injury free, which is a great feeling. I was sad to miss this tournament last year and miss a lot of tournaments,” Stosur told press afterwards. “I’m happy to make it here, and to be in the quarterfinals is a great feeling.”

Up next, Stosur will take on top seed Alize Cornet in the next round.

“It’s going to be a tough match against her,” Stosur said. “She’s a tough competitor - she’s playing very well, she fights really hard... I’ve played her many times before and it’s always a grind. You know you’re going to be in for some long rallies.

“But I’m looking forward to it, hopefully I can come back here and play some of my best tennis.”