US Open 2017: Venus Williams edges past Petra Kvitova to set up all American semis with Sloane Stephens

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams entered the record books by becoming the oldest semi-finalist in US Open at age 37 after defeating two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2) in the women's singles quarterfinals.

Ninth seed Williams, seeking her third US Open crown, progressed to the last four of the tournament against 83rd-ranked compatriot Sloane Stephens.
Meanwhile, Sloane Stephens, who was out of action for 11 months with a left foot injury before making a comeback at Wimbledon, matched her best Grand Slam showing by outlasting Latvian 16th seed Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4).

Williams, who improved to 2-4 all-time against the Czech 13th seed, will return to the world top five for the first time since January 2011 after dominating the tie-break.

“I’m so fortunate to have won that match. It came down to the wire,” Williams said. “I try to tell myself enjoy the competition, enjoy the battle and I think I was able to do that.”Williams, the oldest Slam semi-finalist since Martina Navratilova at Wimbledon in 1994, won the 2000 and 2001 US crowns. She was runner-up this year at Wimbledon and the Australian Open and could reach three Slam finals in a year for the first time since 2002.