Flushing Meadows, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Russian left-hander Ekaterina Makarova secured a berth in her first-ever Grand Slam semifinal with a victory over Victoria Azarenka at the U.S. Open.
The 17th-seeded Makarova doused the two-time U.S. Open runner-up Azarenka 6-4, 6-2 in 1 hour, 27 minutes at Ashe Stadium. The Belarusian star Azarenka piled up six double faults and was broken four times on Day 10 of the fortnight.
Makarova is now 3-3 lifetime against Azarenka, including 1-1 at the majors.
The former world No. 1 Azarenka has had trouble re-locating her formidable game after returning to action in June after being sidelined with a foot injury for three months.
The 26-year-old Moscow native Makarova has played in at least the quarterfinals at four of the last eight and five of the last 12 Grand Slam events. She has yet to drop a set at the 2014 U.S. Open.
Azarenka had won 16 of her previous 18 matches in Flushing. And by failing to reach the semifinals this week, she will drop out of the top 20 next week.
Makarova's final-four opponent will be world No. 1 Serena Williams or 11th- seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta, who will square off Wednesday night at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The 17-time Grand Slam champion Williams beat the two-time Aussie Open titlist Azarenka in the last two U.S. Open finals and is a five-time champion in Flushing Meadows.
Williams is 5-0 lifetime against Pennetta, including a win in Cincinnati last month and a quarterfinal U.S. Open victory in 2009.
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