Pospisil beats Brands to reach Valencia Open semis

VALENCIA, Spain (AP) Vasek Pospisil beat German qualifier Daniel Brands 6-3 6-3 Friday to set up a Valencia Open semifinal against Joao Sousa of Portugal.

The big-serving Canadian broke to go up 4-2 in the first set and then again in the third and last games of the second. Sousa beat Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay 6-4, 6-4, saving all five break points he faced.

Pospisil is looking to reach his second career ATP tour final and said ''I will just go out there and play it point by point like I have been and we'll see if I can reach the final.''

Later, American Steve Johnson faced Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain and Mischa Zverev of Germany played Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain.