Italy's Pennetta reaches US Open semi-finals

NEW YORK: Italy's 83rd-ranked Flavia Pennetta advanced to the final four at a Grand Slam for the first time by beating 10th-seeded compatriot Roberta Vinci 6-4, 6-1 in a US Open quarter-final on Wednesday.

Pennetta, the fourth-worst ranked of any US Open women's semi-finalist ever, will next face the winner of a later match between Belarus second seed Victoria Azarenka and Slovakia's 48th-ranked Daniela Hantuchova.

Pennetta, who has not lost a set in the tournament and has dropped only 25 games in five matches, owns a 3-2 career edge against Hantuchova and has split two matches with two-time reigning Australian Open champion Azarenka.

Top-ranked defending champion Serena Williams and Chinese fifth seed Li Na will meet in Friday's other semi-final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Williams, Li or Pennetta -- all 31 -- would become the oldest US Open women's champion by winning Sunday's final.

Pennetta, who only avoided having to qualify for the US Open main draw after Kazakhstan's Yulia Putinseva withdrew with a back injury, made a breakthrough triumph one year after missing the event for right wrist surgery.

The injury is only now beginning to fade and allow Pennetta, who won only one hardcourt tuneup match, to recapture the form that saw her reach the US Open quarter-finals three times before.

The only lower-ranked women in a US Open last four were unranked 2009 winner Kim Clijsters, unranked 1979 semi-finalist Billie Jean King and 92nd-ranked German Angelique Kerber, a 2011 semi-finalist.

After an exchange of breaks in the first two games, Pennetta broke Vinci again in the fifth game of the first set but surrendered a break to equalize by netting a backhand in the eighth game.

Pennetta won the next six games to seize command, breaking back to lead 5-4 when Vinci sent a forehand beyond the baseline and holding to capture the first set when Vinci netted a backhand volley.

Pennetta raced to a 4-0 lead and broke again in the final game on a forehand lob winner to advance after 65 minutes. (AFP)