Aryna Sabalenka stops Victoria Azarenka to reach semifinals at National Bank Open

Aryna Sabalenka, ranked No. 3, trailed 4-2 in the second set before winning four games in a row with seven aces.

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after beating Victoria Azarenka during quarterfinal play at the women's National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal.

Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka beat Victoria Azarenka, 6-2, 6-4 on Friday in a quarterfinal between players from Belarus at the National Bank Open.

Sabalenka, ranked No. 3, trailed 4-2 in the second set before winning four games in a row.

She had seven aces in the 79-minute match.

“I’m really happy with this. It was a tough match,” Sabalenka said. ”(Azarenka) played well. The second set was a little tricky. I’m really happy that I came back at the end of the set, and won it actually.”

Azarenka was seeded eighth.

“I feel I just didn’t take my opportunities,” Azarenka said. ”It’s as simple as that.”

Sabalenka will face fourth-seeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in the semifinals. Pliskova beat Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-4, 6-0.

Italy’s Camila Giorgi beat 17-year-old American Coco Gauff 6-4, 7-6 (2) in the night session. Giorgi will face the winner of the late match between Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur and American Jessica Pegula.