Camila Giorgi has dropped just three games to upset third-seeded Sloane Stephens 6-0 6-3 in the second round of the Japan Women’s Open.
The unseeded Italian, who reached the semi-finals last year, beat the 2017 US Open champion on Thursday to set up a quarter-final match with Belgian Elise Mertens.
“It was a good match for sure and I was able to play my game, show off my attacking style and be consistent,” Giorgi said.
“When I play I always focus on myself. I only made a few mistakes. That’s always been my way, ever since I was little, to attack, to go forward, to put the pressure on. This surface suits my game, too.”
Giorgi dropped her serve at 5-2 in the second set but she sealed the victory in the next game on her fourth match point.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who beat second-seeded Kiki Bertens 6-1, 7-5 to progress to the last eight, described her win as “super tough”.
Wildcard Misaki Doi will be Pavlyuchenkova’s opponent in the last eight after the Japanese upset seventh-seeded Donna Vekic 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.
Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan faces top-seeded Naomi Osaka of Japan in the quarter-finals after she defeated qualifier Varvara Flink 6-1 6-1.
Meanwhile, Samantha Stosur has reached the Guangzhou International semi-finals and fellow Australian Priscilla Hon edged compatriot Ajla Tomljanovic to reach the quarter-finals of the Korea Open.
Wildcard Stosur beat Serbian Nina Stojanovic 6-2 7-6 (7-1) at the Guangdong Olympic Tennis Centre on Thursday.
The Australian will face Viktorija Golubic, who beat local hope Zhang Shuai 6-3 3-6 6-4 in the semi-finals.
In the other last-four clash, third-seeded Sofia Kenin will take on Anna Blinkova after beating qualifier Jasmine Paolini 7-5 6-1.
In Seoul, Hon edged fifth-seeded compatriot Tomljanovic in three sets, 6-3 5-7 6-1.
The qualifier will take on third-seeded Karolina Muchova in the quarter-finals after the Czech ace defeated qualifier Timea Babos 6-2 6-3.
“I was trying to be more focused on myself, to play my game, and it worked out,” Muchova said.
“I think I played pretty solid today, and it was enough to win the match.”