Serena advances to US Open semis

NEW YORK – US fourth seed Serena Williams advanced to the US Open semi-finals for the fourth time in five years on Wednesday by defeating Serbian 12th seed Ana Ivanovic 6-1, 6-3 in 58 minutes.

Three-time champion Williams, a 14-time Grand Slam winner who lost to Samantha Stosur in last year’s final, will next play on Friday against Italian 10th seed Sara Errani for a berth in Saturday’s championship match.

“It’s going to be a good matchup. She is such a fighter. She’s so strong and quick,” Williams said. “I’m just so happy to be in the semis. It’s so cool.”

Williams has only dropped 16 games through five matches while blasting a tournament-best 41 aces, including 12 against outmatched Ivanovic, a former World No. 1 who won a Grand Slam title at the 2008 French Open.

“I came out really strong,” Williams said. “Playing someone like Ana, the former No. 1, I knew I had to come out strong and play some amazing tennis.” – AFP