Agence France Presse
New York, Sept 9: Serena Williams stayed on course for the first calendar Grand Slam since 1988, advancing to the US Open semifinals Tuesday by defeating older sister Venus Williams 6-2, 1-6, 6-3.
The three-time defending champion will be up against Italy’s 43rd-ranked Roberta Vinci, who eliminated France’s 40th-ranked Kristina Mladenovic 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
Playing at a high level throughout, the sisters staged a classic at Arthur Ashe Stadium, which was jam-packed with fans and celebrities.
“This was a big moment for Venus and me,” Serena said. “We were very competitive. We were just trying to give each other a great match.”
Serena fired 35 winners with 22 unforced errors with 12 aces, the last coming on match point. Venus had 24 winners, 15 unforced errors and eight aces.
Serena improved the season record to 53-2 and took a 16-11 edge in the sibling rivalry, including a 9-5 advantage in Grand Slam meetings and a 3-2 lead in US Open results.
Venus, on her deepest US Open run in five years, was seen as one of the big threats to spoil Serena’s historic run.
In the third set, Serena fired a backhand winner to break Venus, fought off a break point to hold for a 3-0 edge and held serve to the end of the 98-minute spectacle.
“Just holding serve in the third set was all I could do,” Serena said. “She was blasting so hard. She had so much power. It wasn’t easy at all.”
Serena is 4-0 in her career against Vinci, who reached her first Grand Slam semifinal in her 44th Slam start. “Amazing moment for me. It’s unbelievable,” Vinci said. “First semifinal in my career. I’m so happy, I don’t have words to say.”
The Williams sisters tested each other emotionally and with some of the best skills in tennis. Venus saved a break point and held serve in the opening game and both players followed with impressive shotmaking.
Serena broke in the fifth game with a forehand winner and the seventh when Venus sent a forehand long, then held at love to claim the first set after 33 minutes.
Serena double faulted in the second set to surrender her first break, giving Venus a 3-1 lead. Venus held at love, broke again and held when Serena netted a forehand to force a third set, the 11th Serena faced in her calendar Slam run.
Sania-Hingis in semis
New York: Sania Mirza remained on course for her second successive Grand Slam title after reaching the semifinals of the US Open with Swiss partner Martina Hingis, here Tuesday. Top seeds Sania and Hingis, the Wimbledon champions, saw off the challenge of Taipei girls Yung-Jan Chan and Hao-Ching Chan 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 in the quarterfinals. In the men’s doubles quarterfinals, Rohan Bopanna and Florin Mergea will take on Dominic Inglot and Robert Lindstedt.
Results
Serena Williams bt Venus Williams 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
Roberta Vinci bt Kristina Mladenovic 6-3, 5-7, 6-4