WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Madison Keys, the 2017 US Open runner-up, outperformed Wimbledon champion Simona Halep 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 to secure a spot at the WTA Cincinnati Masters last eight on Thursday.
Halep, losing finalist at Cincinnati a year ago, struggled physically toward the end and saved a third-set match point. The Romanian had never lost a set against Keys in three previous hardcourt matches.
Japanese second seed Osaka advanced to the quarterfinals by 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-2 victory over Hsieh Su-Wei, who defeated Osaka this year in Miami.
Osaka, current holder of the US and Australian Open titles, is playing the event for the fist time after failing to qualify on her only previous attempt in 2016.
Double Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova breezed past 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens 6-1, 6-2.
Venus Williams won three matches in a row for the first time since March as she defeated Donna Vekic 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
