Venus Williams through to semifinals in Auckland

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Venus Williams claimed a straight-set win Thursday that left her the only unseeded player to reach the semifinals of the WTA's ASB Classic in New Zealand.

Williams, ranked 47th in the world, had five breaks in a 6-3, 6-3 win over Garbine Muguruza. Williams dropped serve twice but won nearly two-thirds of the points when serving and 29-of-57 points off Muguruza's serve.

Second-seeded Ana Ivanovic also took half the points when receiving serve as she beat Kurumi Nara 6-2, 6-3 in her quarterfinal. Ivanovic cashed in four of her 10 break points with three breaks coming in the first set.

No. 3-seeded Kristen Flipkens topped qualifier Sachie Ishizu 6-4, 7-5 with three breaks in each set and fifth-seeded Jamie Hampton got by Lauren Davis 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

Hampton's win sets up an all-American semifinal against Williams. It will be the first meeting between the two. Flipkens, who takes on Ivanovic in the first semifinal Friday, was a straight-set winner over Ivanovic in 2012 in their only previous match.