Iasi Open: Avanesyan reaches semi-finals

Russian Elina Avanesyan, the No 5 seed, beat Romanian Jaqueline Cristian, the No 3 seed, 7-5, 6-4 to move into the semi-finals of the Iasi Open at the Ciric Sports Base on Thursday night.

Avanesyan, ranked No 76, will face Chloe Paquet next.

Ahead of her victory, the 21-year-old Russian won against Spaniard Leyre Romero Gormaz (6-1, 6-2) and edged out Croat Petra Martic (6-2, 5-7, 6-4).

Cristian, ranked No 61, defeated Italian lucky loser Nuria Brancaccio (6-2, 6-4) and wildcard Elena-Gabriela Ruse (6-4, 6-7 (1), 6-2) in the previous rounds of the Iasi tournament.

Iasi WTA 250, other last eight results (Ciric Sports Base, clay, USD 267.082, most recent results first):

• Chloe Paquet beat Selena Janicijevic (Q): 0-6, 6-2, 6-1
• Olga Danilovic beat Anna Bondar (8): 7-5, 6-2
• Mirra Andreeva (1) beat Lea Boskovic (LL): 6-2, 6-0