Simona Halep has edged closer to taking the world No 1 ranking by qualifying for the China Open semi-finals on Friday.
Halep, currently ranked No 2, defeated the unseeded Daria Kasatkina 6-2 6-1 to close in on the top spot held by Garbine Muguruza.
Muguruza's world No 1 position is under threat after she bowed out of this tournament in the first round with a virus.
Halep beat Maria Sharapova in the previous round and, after winning her quarter-final, will play Jelena Ostapenko who beat her at the French Open earlier this year.
Had Elina Svitolina beaten Caroline Garcia, Halep might have had to win the title, with Svitolina also in the race for number one.
But the Ukrainian was beaten in a gruelling encounter with Wuhan champion Garcia, who prevailed 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 7-6 (8-6) after three hours and 21 minutes.
The Frenchwoman, who had her right thigh heavily strapped, must now recover for a semi-final against Petra Kvitova, who beat fellow Czech Barbora Strycova 6-3 6-4.