Dinara Safina returns a shot against Flavia Pennetta during Day 10 of the 2008 U.S. Open. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK—Russian sixth seed Dinara Safina overpowered Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-2 6-3 on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the U.S. Open for the first time.
The 22-year-old, runner-up at the French Open and Olympics, raced through the first set and then came from a break down in the second to clinch her place in the last four.
Pennetta, seeded 16th and in her first grand slam quarter-final, looked nervous and Safina broke twice to take the first set.
The Italian gave herself a glimmer of hope when she broke to lead 2-1 in the second but Safina won five of the next six games to set up a semi-final against fourth seed Serena Williams or her sister, seventh seed and Wimbledon champion Venus.
