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Serena Rallies In Sibling Matchup

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The Associated Press

Published: September 4, 2008

NEW YORK - Serena Williams barely got the better of older sister Venus Williams in a U.S. Open quarterfinal that was fit for a final, coming back in each set to win 7-6 (6), 7-6 (7) Wednesday night and break a tie in their head-to-head series.

Serena trailed 5-3 in both sets. She faced set points in both, including eight in the second. But she advanced to the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2002, the year she beat Venus in the title match for her second U.S. Open championship.

It was the siblings' 17th meeting as professionals, and Serena leads 9-8. That includes 11 matches at Grand Slam tournaments, where Serena leads 6-5.

She also has the edge in major championships, 8-7, and only she can add to that total this weekend. The fourth-seeded Serena will meet No. 6 Dinara Safina in the semifinals.

"It's really just unfortunate it had to be in the quarters," Serena said.

Venus had all sorts of chances to take control, but in the end, as both women's play reached a very high level, it was Serena who pulled through. In the second tiebreaker, Venus had four set points - and Serena saved them all.

Then, when Serena earned her first match point, nearly 2 1/2 hours into the match, she converted it, when Venus ended an 11-stroke exchange by missing a forehand.

Safina overpowered No. 16 Flavia Pennetta 6-2, 6-3 earlier Wednesday.

Safina, the sister of 2000 U.S. Open men's champion Marat Safin, reached her first semifinal at Flushing Meadows. The Russian has won 37 of her past 41 matches and made it to the finals at six of her previous seven events.

The French Open runner-up and Beijing Olympics silver medalist compiled a 25-13 edge in winners against Pennetta and only was broken once.

Wednesday's schedule also included two men's quarterfinals. No. 6 Andy Murray of Britain reached his first Grand Slam semifinal by beating No. 17 Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina 7-6 (2), 7-6 (1), 4-6, 7-5 in a match that lasted nearly four hours and delayed the start of Williams vs. Williams.

Murray, who ended del Potro's 23-match winning streak, clinched a rise to No. 4 in the rankings, matching the highest spot ever for a British man. Neither he nor del Potro played particularly well - each made far more unforced errors than winners - but Murray's biggest complaint was when his request to have the overhead video boards shut off during points was denied.

No. 1 Rafael Nadal was to take on unseeded American Mardy Fish late Wednesday night.

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