Pavlyuchenkova beats Bencic at Citi Open, faces McHale next

WASHINGTON (AP) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia eliminated third-seeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 6-2, 6-4 on Thursday to reach the Citi Open quarterfinals.

The 40th-ranked Pavlyuchenkova, the runner-up at the hard-court tuneup for the U.S. Open in 2012, will face Christina McHale of the United States for a semifinal berth.

McHale, who is No. 62 in the WTA rankings, advanced by edging Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 6-2, 1-6, 7-5.

Among those in men's action later Thursday: reigning U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic and last year's runner-up in New York, Kei Nishikori.