Australian Open 2017: Venus Williams storms into semi-finals, becomes oldest women to qualify for top 4 of grand slam since 1994

Venus Williams beat Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at Melbourne Park to reach the Australian Open semi-finals for the first time in 14 years.

Williams saw off Pavlyuchenkova 6-4 7-6 (7-3) in the first of the quarter-finals. Venus Williams becomes the oldest women after the legendary Martina Navratilova to reach the semifinals of a grand slam since 1994.

This means Williams’ 2017 Australian Open campaign is her best since 2003, the last time she reached the last four in the year’s opening grand slam event.

The 36-year-old American has never won the title, her best effort a runner-up finish to sister Serena in 2003.

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