VICTORIA PARK, Hong Kong - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova breezed past Naomi Osaka in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, to make the semifinals of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open.

The Russian broke Osaka in her first two service games and took the first set 6-3, and never looked back from there.

"It's always nice to win in two sets, and I think I've played a really solid match - consistent and aggressive as well at times," said the World No.21 afterwards.

She will now play Wang Qiang, who fended off double set point before securing a late break to take the first set against Australia's Samantha Stosur. The second set was a much easier task, and the World No.48 came through 7-5, 6-2.

Earlier in the day, American Jennifer Brady beat her compatriot Nicole Gibbs handily in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.

"I'm happy with the win, and hopefully I can continue," said the 22-year-old afterwards.

She next faces seventh seed Daria Gavrilova, who was made to work hard by Lizette Cabrera in an all-Australian quarterfinal after a straightforward first set. The World No.155 hit back to level matters in the second, but a late break of serve secured the 23-year-old her semifinal spot, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.