place in the final of the US Open, crushing Ekaterina
Makarova 6-1 6-3 in exactly an hour.
The top seed and two-time defending champion
moved a step closer to winning her home grand
slam for a sixth time, with only Caroline Wozniacki
of Denmark now standing in her way at Flushing
Meadows.
Makarova, in contrast to her opponent, was playing
in her first major semi-final having upset two-time
US Open runner-up Victoria Azarenka in the
previous round.
However another upset proved well beyond the
17th-seeded Russian; she was simply unable to deal
with the power of Williams on Arthur Ashe, at one
stage going 40 minutes without winning a game.
"It feels so good. You never know. I am so happy
you have no idea," Williams said in her on-court
interview. "I didn't think I'd be here today."
Amazing run The 32-year-old - who had failed to
get beyond the last eight of the other three major
tournaments this season - managed 24 winners
compared to six by her opponent and had an
amazing run where she took 22 out of 24 points.
From 1-1 in the first set she reeled off nine games in
a row to move to the brink, though to Makarova's
credit she did not give up without a fight.
Williams had one wobble serving for the match but
quickly made up for it, setting up a showdown with
her good friend Wozniacki on Sunday as she bids to
join Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on 18
career slams.
"She obviously wants to win and go for her first
grand slam title and I want to win and make a little
history," the American said of facing the 10th-
seeded Wozniacki.
"Whatever happens, I'll be happy with the outcome.
She's such a great person. We've been looking
forward to this since the draw came out."
Watch the men's semi-finals from the US
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