(Reuters) - Simona Halep will be the young gun in a U.S. Open semi-final lineup that features three 30-somethings after the Romanian beat Victoria Azarenka 6-3 4-6 6-4 on Wednesday as rain hit the grand slam for the first time.
Despite the gloomy weather the Italian flag was flying proudly over the U.S. Open after Flavia Pennetta toppled Czech fifth seed Petra Kvitova 4-6 6-4 6-2 to join compatriot Roberta Vinci in the last four.
Defying the odds, rankings and age, 33-year-old Pennetta and 32-year-old Vinci put their name in the record books by becoming the first two Italian women in the Open Era to reach the semi-finals of any grand slam.