Serena reach the semi-finals of the US Open

Serena Williams is through to the final four in New York after beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets.

After a shaky start on Thursday, Serena Williams battled her way past Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and into the semi-finals of this year’s U.S Open. In fairness to the current tournament favourite, besides being broken in the first game of the match, she barely put a foot wrong. A 7-5, 6-1 win was her reward for overpowering the Russian.

Williams hasn’t lost a set in Flushing Meadows all week, and the majority of pundits are backing her to win the competition. She’s won 17 matches in a row now, and the fact that she’s already won this tournament three times serves to underline her status as the player to beat in the women’s draw.

Williams will now face either Caroline Wozniacki or Andrea Petkovic for a place in the final. Wozniacki is the world No. 1, and Petkovic has had a great season, and yet both of them would be considered underdogs against Serena. Regardless of who eventually wins, it looks like the final few days of the U.S Open will be thrilling.