Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova stunned second seed Kiki Bertens 6-1 7-5 to reach the Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals in Osaka on Thursday, while American Sloane Stephens suffered another early exit.
World No 8 Bertens made a slow start and fell 4-0 behind in the opening set after serving five double faults in two games.
The Dutchwoman recovered well to share the opening four games with Pavlyuchenkova but dropped her serve in the fifth, failing to keep up with her unseeded opponent’s devastating backhands.
