Stosur beat China's Peng Shuai 7-6(0) 6-4 to advance, with the winner of Saturday's final also set to secure the Australian number one spot just ahead of Sunday's French Open.
Stosur has owned that spot for 450 straight weeks since October 2008.
Seventh seed Gavrilova dropped only five points on serve in the first set in a solid performance against Garcia, the fifth seed.
"I played well, served well and really believed in what I could do and how I could hurt her (on court)," said Gavrilova.
"I had four wins against her (coming in to Friday's match) and I think she still hasn't found a way to get me - I know how to use my weapons to beat her. It's a big mental game for both of us."
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
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