By Adrianna Outlaw | Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Svetlana Kuznetsova staged a successful reunion with Venus Williams.

Facing Williams for the first time in seven years, Kuznetsova defeated the defending champion, 6-2, 6-2, to advance to the Wuhan Open quarterfinals.

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The ninth-seeded Russian will face either Tokyo champion Caroline Wozniacki or third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska for a semifinal spot.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Kuznetsova has beaten both Williams sisters this season. She upset then world No. 1 Serena Williams in Miami in March.

"It was a good match. I don't think Venus played her best game. But I've been confident and I've been playing well," Kuznetsova said. "I didn't use couple of my chances in the second set. But, yeah, I still could finish it 6-2."

Williams' exit comes a day after 2015 finalist Garbine Muguruza fell to former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic. The 36-year-old American betrayed her cause with seven double faults. Williams won just eight of 20 second-serve points.

Fourth-seeded Simona Halep navigated the blustery breeze sweeping Yaroslava Shvedova, 6-3, 6-3, in 75 minutes.

"I felt the wind. It was really difficult to play against the wind," Halep said. "She's very strong and could attack the ball very easily. She came out very aggressive, but I blocked the ball well, returned well and I'm happy with the way I played and that I could win in two sets."

Halep will play Madison Keys in the quarterfinals.

Keys was a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 victor over Russian qualifier Daria Kasatkina. Halep has won three of four meetings with Keys, including a 7-6 (2), 6-3 victory in the Montreal final earlier this season.

Johanna Konta squeezed out a 7-5, 7-6 (6) win over seventh-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro.

The 11th-seeded Briton will play either world No. 1 Angelique Kerber or two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the quarterfinals.