Johanna Konta had won her past three encounters with Venus Williams, but the veteran controlled proceedings from the baseline, taking the first set in just over half an hour.
Rafael Nadal, 30, converted all three of his break points to end Sock's challenge in one hour and 20 minutes and set up a meeting with Austria's Dominic Thiem - a rematch of the Madrid Open final that the Spaniard won to enter the world's top four.
American tennis player Nikita Kryvonos has been banned for 10 years and fined $20,000 (£15,380) after being found guilty of breaches of the sport's anti-corruption programme.
Rafael Nadal has clinically beaten Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-1 to win his 10th Barcelona Open title on Sunday 30th April.
World number 2 Novak Djokovic has sacked his entire coaching crew, including Marian Vajda, just before the commencement of the Madrid open.
