NEW YORK, NY, USA - Venus Williams' perfect head-to-head record against Francesca Schiavone stayed intact on Tuesday night, as the American hung tough through two tight sets, 76(5) 64, to improve to 8-0 against the Italian.
Williams, the No.3 seed at the year's final major, was on the offense throughout the one-hour, 54-minute match-up, regrouping after letting 4-0 get to 4-4 in the first set tie-break and, after twice losing a one-break lead in the second set, breaking a third time in the final game to step into the semifinals.
"I've played Francesca for so many years. There have been times she's had me down, but fortunately I would come back," Williams said. "I know when I play her I'm going to have to play good tennis. I don't think either of us was able to play our normal game because it was so windy. You end up playing a little safer. But when the stakes weare higher, I was able to raise my game."
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Both aged 30, Williams and Schiavone reaching the quarterfinals meant that for the first time since Wimbledon in 1999, more than one 30-something was in the final eight of a major (then it was Steffi Graf, Jana Novotna and Nathalie Tauziat). Now Williams is the first 30-something in the semifinals of a major since the US Open in 2005 (Mary Pierce reached the final that year).
Schiavone was playing the quarters of the Open for the second time in her career, having also made this stage in 2003 (losing to Jennifer Capriati).
"I came back, but when it was 5-5 I missed two balls... that's tennis," Schiavone said of the tie-break. "But it was a good tournament for me. Even if I do second round and give the best I can, it's a good tournament."
