Eugenie Bouchard's early-season resurgence continued as she easily saw off Camila Giorgi to reach the Hobart International semi-finals, while defending champion Heather Watson exited after playing twice on Wednesday.

Bouchard ended 2014 as world number seven, but struggles with form and concussion saw her drop to 48 by the end of last year.

However, the Canadian reached the quarter-finals in Shenzhen earlier this month and she has gone one better in Hobart after a convincing 6-3 6-2 victory against second seed Giorgi.

The poor weather that has blighted the tournament continued on Thursday, and it was past 11pm local time when Bouchard - who earlier helped to clear water off the courts - clinched the win.

Dominika Cibulkova awaits in the semi-finals, after the third seed defeated Kiki Bertens 7-5 6-3 in a match that lasted over seven hours due to weather disruptions.

Watson - who triumphed in Hobart 12 months ago - and Monica Nicolescu resumed a second-round contest that started on Wednesday before being interrupted by rain, and it was Briton Watson who dug deep to clinch a 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 7-6 (7-3) victory. 

In a fierce contest, Nicolescu rescued three match points to tie it up at 5-5 in the deciding set, and then had three match points of her own in game 12 before Watson made the crucial hold.

But Watson's tournament came to an end in a 3-6 6-4 6-4 defeat to Johanna Larsson, having been forced to the play the semi-final after the conclusion of Bouchard's victory.

Watson put up a good fight, but ultimately it was Larsson who progressed to the last four with the match finishing shortly after 2am in Hobart.

Seventh seed Alize Cornet plays Larsson in the semi-finals. The Frenchwoman was handed a walkover after Mona Barthel - champion in 2012 - withdrew due to a back injury.