US Open 2015: Serena battles past sister Venus to stay on course for calendar year Grand Slam

Women's singles World no 1 Serena Williams stayed on course for an unprecedented Calendar Year Grand Slam, after she defeated elder sister Venus Williams in a thrilling encounter to reach the semis of the US Open at Flushing Meadows.

Serena claimed a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 win over Venus in an enthralling quarter-final contest that lasted an hour and 38 minutes on Tuesday, 8 September.

The 21-time Grand Slam champion had little trouble in clinching the first set, but Venus produced a spirited fightback in the next set to force a decider.

Eventually, Serena prevailed over her sibling as she smashed 12 aces and 35 winners to inch closer to within two victories of history.

With the win, Serena stands only two wins away from becoming the first player in 27 years, across both genders, to secure a calendar year Grand Slam, i.e. winning all the four majors in a year.

In the semis, the American will cross swords against Roberta Vinci, who defeated Kristina Mladenovic 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in the quarters earlier in the day.

(With inputs from ANI)