NEW YORK, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Venus Williams earned a semifinal berth at the U.S. Open Wednesday as she seeks her second consecutive Grand Slam title.
Williams, seeded 12th, rallied to defeat third-seeded Jelena Jankovic 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4).
She reached the semifinals at this event for the first time in five years, having won the championship here in 2000 and 2001. She was the surprise winner at Wimbledon in July after having been defeated in the third round of the French Open.
Williams will meet top-seeded Justine Henin in the semifinals. Henin eliminated Williams' sister in their quarterfinal match Tuesday.
The other semifinal will send No. 4 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova against sixth-seeded Anna Chakvetadze.
Chakvetadze reached her first Grand Slam semifinal by defeating Shahar Peer 6-4, 6-1. Chakvetadze's previous best finish at a major event was her quarterfinal appearance earlier this year at the French Open.
Kuznetsova, who captured the U.S. Open crown three years ago, won her quarterfinal match against Agnes Szavey 6-1, 6-4.
