Danka Kovinic brought Monica Puig's season to an end by beating the Olympic singles champion in straight sets to move into the semifinals of the Tianjin Open on Friday.
Fifth seed Puig is ranked 30 places above Montenegrin Kovinic, but it was the World No. 63 who came out on top with a 6-4, 6-3 victory.
Puig was broken four times and could only muster a first-serve percentage of 54 in what will be the final competitive game of the year for the Puerto Rican.
Last year's runner-up Kovinic will face Peng Shuai in the last four after the home contender was given a walkover following defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska's withdrawal due to a thigh injury.
Second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova is the highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament as a result of her 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) win against Naomi Osaka.
Kuznetsova, who started the week still in the hunt for a WTA Finals spot, will take on Alison Riske after the American saw off Han Xinyun 6-3, 6-3.
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