US Open: Italy's Flavia Pennetta reaches semi-finals

 Flavia Pennetta

Italy's 83rd-ranked Flavia Pennetta advanced to her first Grand Slam semi-final Wednesday by beating 10th-seeded compatriot Roberta Vinci 6-4, 6-1 in a US Open quarter-final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Pennetta, the fourth-worst ranked of any US Open women's semi-finalist ever, will next face the winner of a later match between Belarus second seed Victoria Azarenka and Slovakia's 48th-ranked Daniela Hantuchova.

Top-ranked defending champion Serena Williams and Chinese fifth seed Li Na will meet in Friday's other semi-final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.