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Agence France-Presse

Serena Williams battled into a US Open semi-final showdown with Victoria Azarenka on Wednesday as top men’s seeds Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev booked their spots in the last-four.
Williams, seeded third, came from a set down to overcome unseeded Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova and keep alive her bid for a 24th singles grand slam title at Flushing Meadows.
Later, Azarenka blew away Belgium’s Elise Mertens as she continues her hunt for a first grand slam title in seven years.
Williams’ comeback included two astonishing shots with her left hand that contributed to winning points.
Naomi Osaka gets ‘revenge’ against Shelby Rogers to reach US Open semi-finals
“At that point I was fighting so hard. I was just trying to do everything I can whether righty or lefty,” she said.
A sluggish start saw the American lose the first 6-4, but she fought back to take the next two 6-3, 6-2, in two hours and 12 minutes inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.


“I never give up and you know I just gotta keep going,” Williams added.
Williams smashed 20 aces, the most she has had in eight years, taking her tally for the tournament to 64 so far.

Dominance personified.
Dominic Thiem is through to his first #USOpen semifinal.
Daniil Medvedev awaits... pic.twitter.com/KGrNWMB3Az
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2020

The record for the most number of aces in a US Open in the women’s singles is 70, set by Williams in 1999 when she won for the first time.
“Sometimes when I’m serving, I just tell myself, I don’t care if my arm falls off, I’m going to keep serving,” she said.
Williams is looking to match Margaret Court’s record for the most number of singles grand slam wins.
It has been more than three years since she won her 23rd at the 2017 Australian Open – when she was already pregnant with daughter Olympia.
Williams has come close since, reaching four major finals only to come away empty-handed.
In the last four she will renew her rivalry with former world number one Azarenka who demolished Mertens 6-1, 6-0 in just one hour, 13 minutes.
Williams defeated Azarenka in the final of the US Open in 2012 and 2013.
Novak Djokovic ‘fans’ court their own notoriety in vile abuse of blameless line judge
The last few years of Azarenka’s career have been interrupted by a custody battle over her son who was born in 2016.
Azarenka said she found it “hard to accept losses” when she was young and at the top of her game, but was now benefiting from a more philosophical attitude.
“I enjoy the moment no matter what it is. I take life as it comes,” Azarenka told reporters.
“It took me a long road to come here with a lot of struggles, a lot of understanding, forcing me to find this route, this path, if you can say that. But I’m here and I’m happy.”
In the men’s draw, Russia’s third seed Medvedev downed compatriot and childhood friend Andrey Rublev 7-6 (8-6), 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).

Twenty-two-year-old Rublev raced to a 5-1 lead in the first-set tiebreak before Medvedev, last year’s US Open runner-up, hauled back to win it 8-6 with an ace.
Medvedev, 24, smashed 16 aces and won 89 per cent of first-serve points. He made 75 per cent of returns to Rublev’s 54 per cent.
“One point decided two sets so it was a really tough match and Andrey was playing unbelievable actually,” Medvedev said.
Medvedev will play second seed Thiem who demolished Australia’s Alex de Minaur, seeded 21st, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.
“I had a great feeling from the first moment on,” said the Austrian.
Fifth seed Alexander Zverev of Germany faces Spain’s 20th seed Pablo Carreno Busta in the competition’s other semi-final.
The disqualification of Novak Djokovic for accidentally hitting a line official with a ball during the last-16 means the US Open will crown a first-time grand slam winner on Sunday.


Year in tennis: ‘Sincaraz’ rivalry splits men’s grand slams while 4 share women’s titles

Andre Agassi on Hong Kong, his comeback and learning to live in the present

Aryna Sabalenka on loving Hong Kong, Steffi Graf and inspiring young players

National Games: Hong Kong tennis chiefs hope golden November will boost sport’s elite status

US Open (tennis)

US Open: Serena Williams and Dominic Thiem move into semi-finals

Serena Williams progressed to the semi-finals where she will meet Victoria Azarenka on Friday. Photo: EPA

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Daniil Medvedev of Russia celebrates winning match point during his Men's Singles quarterfinal match against Andrey Rublev of Russia on Day Ten of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 9, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

US Open: Naomi Osaka gets ‘revenge’ against Shelby Rogers to reach US Open semi-finals

Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka fires a ball into the stands after winning against American Shelby Rogers in the quarterfinal of the US Open in New York. Photo: AP

Sep 8, 2020; Flushing Meadows, New York, USA; Naomi Osaka of Japan hits the ball against Shelby Rogers of the United States in the womenÕs singles quarter-finals match on day nine of the 2020 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Sep 8, 2020; Flushing Meadows, New York, USA; Naomi Osaka of Japan greets Shelby Rogers of the United States at the net following their match in the womenÕs singles quarter-finals match on day nine of the 2020 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

US Open: Serena Williams battles into quarter-finals as Thiem and Medvedev march on

Serena Williams defeated Maria Sakkari of Greece to make the quarter-finals of the US Open in New York on Monday. Photo: EPA

Defending champion Barty to skip French Open over coronavirus fears; Williams unsure

Australia’s Ashleigh Barty with the French Open trophy at Roland Garros. Photo: Reuters

June 8, 2019: Paris, France: Eighth seeded ASHLEIGH BARTY of Australia celebrates at the end of her final match against Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic at Roland Garros French Tennis Open in Paris. Barty won the Open 6-1, 6-3. (Credit Image: © Judith White/ZUMAPRESS.com

FILED - 07 August 2019, England, London: Australian tennis player Ashleigh Barty in action against USA's Alison Riske during their women's singles round of 16 match of the 2019 Wimbledon Grand Slam tennis tournament. The world's number 1 women's tennis player Barty has withdrawn from the US Open, which is set to commence in New York in late August, due to coronavirus concerns. Photo: Steven Paston/PA Wire/dpa

Sep 1, 2020; Flushing Meadows, New York, USA; Serena Williams of the United States celebrates at the net following her match against Kristie Ahn of the United States on day two of the 2020 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Sport

Tennis

Serena Williams progressed to the semi-finals where she will meet Victoria Azarenka on Friday
Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev also book their spots in the last-four


Serena Williams progressed to the semi-finals where she will meet Victoria Azarenka on Friday


Serena Williams

US Open: Serena Williams and Dominic Thiem move into semi-finals

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Serena Williams progressed to the semi-finals where she will meet Victoria Azarenka on Friday Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev also book their spots in the last-four

Serena Williams progressed to the semi-finals where she will meet Victoria Azarenka on Friday

Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev also book their spots in the last-four