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Reuters

Romanian second seed Simona Halep and Italy’s Flavia Pennetta advanced to a US Open semi-final matchup by ousting two-time grand slam champions Victoria Azarenka and Petra Kvitova on Wednesday.
And now the only obstacles to Serena Williams completing a calendar grand slam are players all seeking a first major title.
Halep reached her first US Open semi-final Wednesday by defeating two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

“I don’t know where I found the power to win this match,” Halep said. “I’m really happy because I really wanted to go to my first semi-final here.”
Italy’s 26th-ranked Pennetta upset Czech fifth seed Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon winner, by 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the first quarter-final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I’m really happy,” Pennetta said. “It’s something incredible. Before the tournament I never think to be so far in the tournament, so it’s something special. It’s something amazing for me in this moment.”
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Pennetta has a 3-1 career edge in matches against Halep.
“I know I have to fight for every ball, to play every ball like the last one,” Halep said of playing Pennetta. “I know she is a tough player but I can be strong one more day.”
Thursday’s other semi-final pits Williams against 43rd-ranked Italian Roberta Vinci, who has not won a set in four matches against the 33-year-old American superstar.

Williams, who holds all four major titles, needs only two wins to complete the first calendar grand slam since Steffi Graf in 1988 and win her 22nd grand slam title, matching Graf’s record for Open Era singles crown.
Williams, seeking her seventh US Open crown, has a head-to-head edge on her possible finals foes – 7-0 over Pennetta and 6-1 over Halep.
Azarenka, who lost to Williams in the 2012 and 2013 US Open finals, made 42 unforced errors to only 19 by Halep and the 20th seed from Belarus had 38 winners, two fewer than Halep.

Azarenka, 26, beat Halep, 23, twice in 2012 in their only prior matchups but Halep has won three titles this year while Azarenka has been nagged by a thigh injury.
Halep, the first Romanian in the US Open last four since Irina Spirlea in 1997, returned from a third-set rain break and blasted an ace to level at 2-2.
Azarenka sent a backhand wide to hand Halep a break and a 4-3 lead and they held serve to the end, which came when Azarenka sent a forehand long after two hours and 40 minutes.

Pennetta matched her best grand slam run from the 2013 US Open semi-finals, where she lost to Azarenka.
“I’m really happy right now,” Pennetta said. “I was just trying to fight every ball, running and push everything I can.
“I didn’t think to get through this match. In the second set I was playing and playing – it was unbelievable.”

Kvitova’s ouster removed a potential threat to Williams who delivered one of only two Williams losses this year when they met in May on Madrid clay.
Kvitova, the first Czech woman in the US Open’s last eight since Daja Bedanova in 2001, made 60 unforced errors to only 16 for Pennetta.
The fifth seed also had nine double faults against only four aces in hot conditions at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“It’s not just the heat,” Pennetta said. “It’s the tension for the match, for what you think, what you have to be, what you want to be, have to do – it’s everything in your mind. You have to take it out and just play.”
 


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Novak Djokovic outclasses Roger Federer to win his second US Open title and 10th slam of his career

Italy’s Flavia Pennetta pulls off shock US Open victory, then drops another bombshell: ‘I’m retiring’

Sabr stunner: Roger Federer cuts down Stan Wawrinka with deadly new weapon to set up US Open final with Novak Djokovic

US Open tennis 2015

17-1: that’s Serena Williams’ record over three remaining players in US Open as Halep and Pennetta reach semis

Simona Halep celebrates reaching the semis. Photo: Reuters

Flavia Pennetta celebrates her win. Photo: AFP

Victoria Azarenka in action against Simona Halep. Photo: Reuters

Simona Halep keeps her eye on the ball. Photo: Reuters

Nadia Comaneci watches Simona Halep. Photo: EPA

Simona Halep celebrates. Photo: EPA

Petra Kvitova slumps on her way to defeat. Photo: EPA

Novak Djokovic will take on Marin Cilic for place in US Open final after swatting Lopez aside

Novak Djokovic celebrates his win. Photo: AP

Novak Djokovic hits a return to Feliciano Lopez. Photo: AFP

Novak Djokovic rages at the end of the second set. Photo: AP

Feliciano Lopez hits the ball back to Novak Djokovic. Photo: AP

Novak Djokovic gives the crowd the thumbs up. Photo: AP

Feliciano Lopez stretches for a return. Photo: AP

Serena Williams two wins away from grand slam after beating sister Venus at US Open

Serena Williams hits a return. Photo: USA Today Sports

Venus and Serena in action. Photo: EPA

Venus Williams stretches for the ball. Photo: EPA

Venus Williams was overpowered by her younger sister. Photo: AP

Serena Williams in action. Photo: EPA

Serena Williams salutes the crowd after her win. Photo: AP

Serena and Venus Williams hug after the game. Photo: AP

Title-holder Marin Cilic reaches US Open semis and veteran Vinci joins him as they overcome French foes

Marin Cilic celebrates his win. Photo: Reuters

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga wipes the sweat from his brow. Photo: Reuters

Marin Cilic celebrates. Photo: Reuters

Roberta Vinci celebrates. Photo: Reuters

Kristina Mladenovic rues a missed point. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Tennis

Grand slam looks ever more a certainty with none of the other players ever having won one of the four majors


Romanian second seed Simona Halep and Italy’s Flavia Pennetta advanced to a US Open semi-final matchup by ousting two-time grand slam champions Victoria Azarenka and Petra Kvitova on Wednesday


Serena Williams