New York, Sep 6: Twice champion Venus Williams overcame early jitters to beat nemesis Jelena Jankovic 4-6 6-1 7-6 and secure a clash with world number one Justine Henin in the US Open semi-finals.

Williams won the decisive tiebreak 7-4 to snap a three-match losing streak against the third-seeded Jankovic yesterday after a trio of Russians, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anna Chakvetadze and Nikolay Davydenko, had booked their places in the last four.

Kuznetsova, the 2004 champion, ended the inspired run of Agnes Szavay to set up a semi-final against Chakvetadze, while Davydenko beat German Tommy Haas and next faces the winner of Wednesday's evening match between world number one Roger Federer and Andy Roddick.

Williams, who had lost to Jankovic in their two previous grand slam meetings, praised the Serb's ability to fight back after her second-set washout.

''Jelena is an unbelievable competitor,'' Williams said after the two-hour, 27-minute match under the lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

''It went the distance. It was awesome.'' Williams lost the opening game of the match against Jankovic and looked short of rhythm with 18 unforced errors in the first set. She recovered brilliantly in the second, however, and both players went through the decider without a service break.

Jankovic was gracious in defeat.

''Well done to Venus,'' she said. ''She played unbelievable. She fought well. She deserved to win.'' The 22-year-old Kuznetsova never lost her serve and needed only 67 minutes to oust Szavay, an 18-year-old Hungarian, 6-1 6-4 on the stadium court.

''I had so much energy out there today and I thought I was nervous but I could control it,'' said fourth-seeded Kuznetsova. ''I feel so fresh for the semi-final. I'm ready to go to give it my best shot.'' Sixth-seeded Chakvetadze, 20, advanced to the last four of a grand slam for the first time by overwhelming Israeli 18th seed Shahar Peer 6-4 6-1.

On the men's side, fourth seed Davydenko continued his stroll through the draw with a 6-3 6-3 6-4 quarter-final victory over Haas, the 10th seed.

Davydenko broke Haas's serve eight times and fired 42 winners to oust the German in the US Open quarters for the second year in a row.

''The guy's a tough player,'' Haas said. ''You just have to hand it to him today. Every time I would tried to do something different or fight my way out of it he came up with an answer.''

Reuters
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