AGENCIES
NEW YORK
Simona Halep will be the young gun in a US Open semi-final lineup that features three 30-somethings after the Romanian beat Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Wednesday as rain hit the grand slam for the first time.
Despite the gloomy weather the Italian flag was flying proudly over the US Open after Flavia Pennetta toppled Czech fifth seed Petra Kvitova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to join compatriot Roberta Vinci in the last four. Defying the odds, rankings and age, 33-year-old Pennetta and 32-year-old Vinci put their name in the record books by becoming the first two Italian women in the Open Era to reach the semi-finals of any grand slam. With 33-year-old Serena Williams also in the last four, 23-year-old Halep will be giving up close to decade of experience to all her remaining challengers. "I mean, of course we are a little bit old for the age of tennis right now," said Pennetta. "But we are here. We still fight."
The dream of an All-Italian US Open final, however, will require some special magic particularly from Vinci, who has the daunting task of facing three-times defending US Open champion and world number one Williams. Pennetta will take on second seeded Romanian Halep.
