New York (AP): Flavia Pennetta rallied from down a set and a break to reach her second U.S. Open semifinal in three years.
The Italian beat fifth-seeded Petra Kvitova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 on a steamy afternoon Wednesday. Kvitova, who has battled mononucleosis this summer that has limited her practice time, was struggling physically by the end of the 2-hour, 23-minute match.
Pennetta, 33, made her first major semifinal at the U.S. Open two years ago, and this remains the only Grand Slam tournament where she has advanced that far.
Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champ, has never felt comfortable at Flushing Meadows; this was the first time she'd advanced past the fourth round. She led 3-1 in the second set but couldn't close out the match, committing 60 unforced errors.
With the 26th-seeded Pennetta's win, three of the women's semifinalists will be over the age of 30. Serena Williams and fellow Italian Roberta Vinci advanced Tuesday.
It's the first time in the Open era that two Italian women have reached the same Grand Slam semifinal.
Pennetta will next meet a 20-something: Simona Halep or Victoria Azarenka. Azarenka beat Pennetta in the 2013 U.S. Open semis.
