Serena, Azarenka one step from title rematch

Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka are one step away from booking a tantalising championship rematch at the US Open heading into an intriguing set of women’s semifinals on late Friday. Williams, the top-seeded defending champion, will look to extend a dominant run through the women’s draw against fifth-seeded Li Na of China, who became the first Chinese to reach the last four at the US Open. Second seed Azarenka will face Italy’s unseeded Flavia Pennetta, whose brilliant run at Flushing Meadows has carried her to her first Grand Slam semifinal.

Should form prevail, Williams and Azarenka would set up the first repeat final at the US Open since Serena Williams played her sister Venus Williams for the prize in 2002. Azarenka, 24, joined the trio of 31 year olds with a last-eight victory over 30-year-old Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia in a women’s draw that has underlined the fitness and ferocity of the old guard. 

Should they lift the trophy on Sunday, Williams, Li or Pennetta would become the oldest US Open women’s winner since tennis turned professional in 1968, supplanting Australian Margaret Court, who was 31 years and 55 days old when she triumphed in 1973. Williams later offered a shuddering thought.  ‘I like to believe there is always room for improvement,’ she said.  Williams holds the Chinese player in high regard.  ‘She’s a great challenge,’ Williams said. ‘She moves really well.’