Vinci beats Pliskova to reach semifinals of Wuhan Open

WUHAN, China (AP) U.S. Open finalist Roberta Vinci beat Karolina Pliskova 7-6 (2), 6-3 to advance to the semifinals of the Wuhan Open on Thursday.

The 15th-seeded Italian saved three of four break points and took advantage of 30 unforced errors by the eighth-seeded Pliskova.

''Today was another tough match,'' Vinci said. ''Karolina plays so good, and so flat, so for me it was difficult, especially at the beginning. But I served well and I'm really happy I'm in the semifinals.''

Vinci, who has won 10 of her last 11 matches, next faces the winner of the quarterfinal between Venus Williams and Johanna Konta later Thursday.

Also, fifth-seeded Garbine Muguruza of Spain coasted to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

''You don't play at this level every day, so for me it was great to be playing like this,'' said Muguruza, who converted on five of her seven break opportunities.

Muguruza, who needed just 72 minutes to dispatch her Slovakian opponent, will play Angelique Kerber, who defeated Coco Vandeweghe, in Friday's semifinals.