Venus Williams rolled back the years to knock out Petra Kvitova and set up a U.S. Open semi-final clash with unseeded compatriot Sloane Stephens in New York on Tuesday, remaining on track for a place in her third grand slam final of 2017.
The 37-year-old needed 154 minutes and plenty of grit to down a battling Kvitova 6-3 3-6 7-6(2) as she kept alive her hopes of winning her first major since Wimbledon in 2008.
Williams, who won two of her eight grand slam titles at the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2001, began slowly and was down 3-1 before breaking Kvitova’s serve twice to take the first set.
Kvitova, on the comeback trail after sustaining a career-threatening injury during a home invasion late last year, hit back to force a third set but was unable to match her opponent’s composure in the decisive tiebreak.
Williams closed out the match to the delight of a noisy crowd at Arthur Ashe stadium but found time to pay tribute to her Czech opponent immediately after her triumph.
Venus Williams said “You know, when the situation get hairy, and it’s crazy out here, I try to tell myself to enjoy the competition and enjoy the battle, and I think I was able to do that tonight. Thank you guys for being here with me and seeing me through.”
Next up for Williams is another comeback kid in 16th seed Sloane Stephens, who only began her season at Wimbledon after foot surgery sidelined her for nearly a year.
Kevin Anderson spoiled the American party at the U.S. Open when the big-serving South African beat local favourite Sam Querrey 7-6(5) 6-7(9) 6-3 7-6(7) to reach his first grand slam semi-final in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The two big servers could not manage a break in the opening set and Querrey, who was hoping to be the first American male to make it to the last four here since Andy Roddick in 2006, moved 5-2 up in the tiebreaker but Anderson then played more freely and won five points in a row to take the lead.
There was an early exchange of breaks in the second set with Querrey opening a 6-1 lead in the tiebreak before suffering another meltdown and finding himself trailing 8-7.
This time, however, the 17th seed regrouped and equalised on his eighth set point when Anderson returned long, triggering a huge roar from the crowd.
But the stands gradually cleared up as the match was sent deep into the night.
Anderson got a decisive break in the sixth game of the third set as Querrey struggled with his first serve and the South African held twice, finishing it off with a forehand winner down the line to lead two sets to one.
The fourth set was tightly contested again and went into another tiebreak.
Querrey saved a first match point with an ace at 6-5, set up a set point at 7-6, which Anderson staved off by forcing his opponent to slice a backhand into the net.
The second match point was good enough for Anderson, who dominated the rally until Querrey’s forehand sailed long.
The 31-year-old Anderson, seeded 28th, will face Spanish 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta for a spot in Sunday’s final.
