Julia Goerges ousted top seed Kristina Mladenovic to move into the semi-finals of the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai.
Mladenovic hit a hot streak at the start of the season to reach to world's top 10 for the first time in her career but bows out for the year on a 12-match losing run following Goerges' 6-2 7-6 (7/4) success.
The German required only one set to book her place in the last four but ensured she progressed in style with a 2-0 record in the Azalea Group round robin. Anastasija Sevastova, the fifth seed, awaits.
"I really wanted to win that match, it didn't matter if I had to win one set, but I don't want to go out with losing the match and still being in the semi-finals. I think that's a bit weird," Goerges told wtatennis.com.
The two remaining matches failed to go the distance, Sloane Stephens retiring at 5-0 down in the first set to Barbora Strycova and Elena Vesnina unable to go on at 6-2 1-0 behind against Shuai Peng.
None of those are involved in the semi-finals.