Australia’s own Samantha Stosur was among the casualties on Wednesday’s quarterfinal action in the women’s singles event of the 2016 Apia International Sydney. Stosur lost in straight sets 6-4 6-4 to Monica Puig at Ken Rosewall Arena.

Stosur was full of praise for the Puerto Rican qualifier, who was win-less against the Australian prior their Sydney quarterfinal clash. Stosur notched victories against Puig in all their previous four meetings - in the first round of the 2014 French Open 6-1 6-1, in the first round of the 2014 Rogers Cup 6-1 6-1, in the first round of the 2015 Internationaux de Strasbourg 6-3 6-0 where Stosur went on to win the title, and in the second round of the 2015 Hong Kong Tennis Open 6-4 6-4.

“I think she (Puig) played exceptionally well,” Stosur said of Puig as reported on the tournament’s official website. “She played a hundred times better that every other time I’ve played against her.”

Meanwhile, top seed Simona Halep moved through to the semifinals after claiming straight-sets victory over Karolina Pliskova 6-4 7-5. Halep, who ranks second in the world, struck 22 winners and 33 unforced errors in the match. She will play former World No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova, who defeated Sara Errani of Italy on Wednesday’s first quarterfinal match, in the semifinals. Halep leads Kuznetsova in their head-to-head record with their most recent meeting in the quarterfinals of the 2014 French Open.

Women’s singles Quarterfinal results (Jan. 13, 2016)

Simona Halep def. Karolina Pliskova 6-4 7-5

Svetlana Kuznetsova def. Sara Errani 7-6(1) 6-0

Belinda Bencic def. Ekaterina Makarova 6-0 2-6 6-4

Monica Puig def. Samantha Stosur 6-4 6-4

Day 5 Semifinals Schedule (Jan. 14, 2016)

Simona Halep vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Not before 4 p.m. at Ken Rosewall Arena

Belinda Bencic vs. Monica Puig - Not before 8 p.m. at Ken Rosewall Arena

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