New York: Serena Williams roared back from an early deficit to defeat Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday and book a US Open semi-final clash with Ekaterina Makarova. Playing in her first Grand Slam quarter-final of 2014, world number one Williams kept her bid for a third-straight US Open title -- and sixth overall -- alive as she stretched her perfect record over the 11th-seeded Italian to 6-0.


Serena Williams. Pic/AFP

"I'm just so happy to have won," the 17-time Grand Slam champion said, noting that she'd had a "tough year" in the majors. "It feels so special to be back in a semi-final, especially in New York." In Makarova she'll face a first-time Grand Slam semi-finalist. The 17th-seeded Russian advanced with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over former world number one Victoria Azarenka -- runner-up to Williams the past two years.