Armenia's Elina Avanesyan through to Merida semi-finals

Elina Avanesyan of Armenia defeated Australian qualifier Maya Joint 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 to advance to the semi-finals of the Mérida Open Akron on Friday afternoon, Tennis Majors reported.

Avanesyan, ranked No 45, will next play either American Emma Navarro, the top seed, or wild card Zeynep Sonmez.

The 22-year-old Armenian previously beat Pole Magdalena Frech, the No 7 seed (4-6, 6-3, 6-3) and Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (6-1, 6-4).

Joint, ranked No 103, reached the last eight by getting the best of Austrian Julia Grabher (6-3, 6-2) and Croat Donna Vekic, the No 5 seed (6-1, 6-2).