Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, returns a shot against Anastasija Sevastova, of Latvia, during the women's singles match at the Pan Pacific Open women's tennis tournament in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Muguruza won the match. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
The Associated Press
TOKYO (AP) - Aliaksandra Sasnovich produced the biggest upset of the Pan Pacific Open on Thursday, ousting third-seeded Karolina Pliskova in straight sets to advance to the quarterfinals.
Sasnovich, of Belarus, beat the U.S. Open finalist 6-4, 6-2 for her first win over a top-10 player. She will face local favorite Naomi Osaka in the next round.
"I was expecting now to be going to Wuhan for the next tournament because I know Karolina is a really good player and I didn't expect to win today," Sasnovich said. "But, you know, it's life and it's tennis. The ball is round."
Top-seeded Garbine Muguruza also advanced with a comfortable 6-3, 6-3 win over Anastasija Sevastova.
Muguruza, who lost to Sevastova in the second round of the U.S. Open, broke her opponent five times to set up a quarterfinal with Elina Svitolina. She beat eighth-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-6 (5), 6-4.
"Maybe there was a little bit of pressure," Muguruza said. "But I'm so happy that I came back as top seed, because it means that I'm improving and hopefully I can be in the final."
Also, Magda Linette saved two match points to defeat Yulia Putintseva 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Garbine Muguruza of Spain acknowledges the crowd after defeating Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia in their women's singles match at the Pan Pacific Open women's tennis tournament in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
The Associated Press
Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, acknowledges the crowd after defeating Anastasija Sevastova, of Latvia, after their women's singles match at the Pan Pacific Open women's tennis tournament in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
The Associated Press
Garbine Muguruza, left, of Spain, and Anastasija Sevastova, right, of Latvia, greet each other after their women's singles match at the Pan Pacific Open women's tennis tournament in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
The Associated Press
Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, returns a shot against Anastasija Sevastova, of Latvia, during the women's singles match at the Pan Pacific Open women's tennis tournament in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Muguruza won the match. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
The Associated Press
Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, returns a shot against Anastasija Sevastova, of Latvia, during the women's singles match at the Pan Pacific Open women's tennis tournament in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Muguruza won the match. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
The Associated Press
Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, reacts after winning a point against Anastasija Sevastova, of Latvia, during the women's singles match at the Pan Pacific Open women's tennis tournament in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Muguruza won the match. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
The Associated Press
Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, returns a shot against Anastasija Sevastova, of Latvia, during the women's singles match at the Pan Pacific Open women's tennis tournament in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Muguruza won the match. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
The Associated Press
Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, returns a shot against Anastasija Sevastova, of Latvia, during the women's singles match at the Pan Pacific Open women's tennis tournament in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Muguruza won the match. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
The Associated Press
Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, serves a shot against Anastasija Sevastova, of Latvia, during the women's singles match at the Pan Pacific Open women's tennis tournament in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Muguruza won the match. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
The Associated Press
Anastasija Sevastova, of Latvia, returns a shot against Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, during the women's singles match at the Pan Pacific Open women's tennis tournament in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Muguruza won the match. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
The Associated Press
Anastasija Sevastova, of Latvia, returns a shot against Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, during the women's singles match at the Pan Pacific Open women's tennis tournament in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Muguruza won the match. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
The Associated Press