Serena into Semifinals

NEW YORK: Nights like this are special. It was a little bit balmy as tennis fans filed into the Arthur Ashe Stadium later than expected. The last of the day session matches had gone long so there was a delay in getting the place ready. The night ticket holders were excited and anticipating it was going to be a night to remember.

It was a feeling vey similar to attending a sold out Broadway show. The orchestra is tuning up the instruments as you settle into your seat and then the overture strikes and the curtain goes up.

Serena and Venus Williams are the stars and this is drama at its best. The two have them are so evenly matched from their previous matches; their series stood at 8-8. They had played this year in Bangalore, India which Serena won 7-6 in the third and the Wimbledon final which Venus won.

This time it was special for Serena.

"It is a big hump. It's a massive hump to get over. You know, yeah, I think I've been playing really consistent for over a year now and just really been dedicated. A year doesn't sound like a long time, but it's been a while. You know, just hoping for the results to come."

From the first point you knew, you sensed, this was the night to be here. The balls being hit by both Serena and Venus were heavy. They were being hit hard and so deep. They chased down return after return but it was Venus who had the early advantage with a service break. But Serena broke back and eventually won the set.

"When I was at 5 2, 40 Love I thought, wow, these should be match points and they weren't," said Venus. That's sports, and I guess it makes it more entertaining. But, yeah, I felt like I was always in control. I was always playing more aggressive. Always going for a lot more, but just always coming up a little short."

"She just played well and kept a lot of balls in play. I mean, there were some shots that I thought okay, for sure they're going out, but they would come in. That's tennis. It's never over till it's over."

The incredibly high standard never dropped as they kept coming up with winners or became engaged in some rallies that saw the ball being punished with such ferocity that you wondered how any felt was left on the ball.

After two hours 25 minutes the match was Serena's and it ended with a challenge from Serena. Venus had hit the ball deep, it was very close to the line but Serena challenged the line call immediately and the replay show that it had landed on the wrong side of the line. The final score was 7-6, 7-6.

"I definitely managed my emotions a lot better," said Serena. "That was one thing I really wanted to focus on going into this match, was staying positive. I felt like I got really negative at Wimbledon, and lost any chance I might have had. So I thought, you know, when she was up, I just got relaxed. When I was up, I was still relaxed."

This was one of the best matches they have played against on another and by far the best match of this year's US Open. As far as their head t head is concerned Serena now leads 9-8.

In the semifinals Serena will play Dinara Safina of Russia.

"I think it'll be easy because Safina is going to want to go to the final, and I want to get to the final. I don't want to go out in the next round, especially not after that. So I just definitely will be going for the next game," said Serena.

By Craig Gabriel