U.S. Open: Serena, Djokovic Head to Semis

NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams is within two match victories of completing a calendar slam.

Williams maintained that goal by defeating her sister in the U.S. Open women's quarterfinals, a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 triumph over Venus Williams. Serena fired 12 aces and broke serve three times in earning the right to take on Roberta Vinci in the semifinals on Thursday.

It was the 11th three-set victory at a major this year for Serena, who improved to 9-5 against her sister in Grand Slam matches

Vinci advanced with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 triumph over Kristina Mladenovic. The unseeded Vinci had never advanced past the fourth round of a Grand Slam event before this month.

The men's semifinals will include top-seeded Novak Djokovic, who was able to outlast No. 18 Feliciano Lopez, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6.

Defending men's champion Marin Cilic stretched his U.S. Open winning streak to 12 matches by holding on to beat 19th-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (3), 6-4. Cilic will take on Djokovic in Friday's men's semis.