Petra Kvitova marches on while Elina Svitolina exits Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham

Defending champion Petra Kvitova defeated Julia Goerges to reach the Nature Valley Classic semi-finals in Birmingham.

Kvitova, going for her fifth title of the year, eased past Goerges 6-1 6-4 as the two-time Wimbledon champion broke her German opponent's opening service game of each set.

The world No 8, who defeated Johanna Konta in her opening match and is yet to drop a set this week, hit 20 winners and served six aces as the fourth seed saved all three break points she faced.

Kvitova will now face Mihaela Buzarnescu after the Romanian overcame Svitolina 6-3 6-2 to continue her run of good form which has seen her rise to a career-high of world No 30.

Buzarnescu, who lost to Kvitova in the Prague Open final in May, knocked out Svitolina at the French Open and repeated the feat to seal her spot in the last four.

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Magdalena Rybarikova overcame Dalila Jakupovic 6-2 6-4 in the first quarter-final of the day and the former Wimbledon semi-finalist will now meet Barbora Strycova after she won 7-5 6-3 against Lesia Tsurenko, who retired through injury.

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