Wozniacki breezes into semi-finals

Top seed Caroline Wozniacki battled against 30mph winds to secure her place in the semi-finals of the US Open.

Wozniacki overcame unseeded Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova 6-2 7-5 at Flushing Meadows and will now face Russia`s Vera Zvonareva for a place in Saturday`s final.

"This felt like playing in a hurricane," admitted Wozniacki.

"But it was the same for both players and I`m so happy to get through.

"When we were practising I thought `Oh, it`s not that windy today` but when we came out here I knew it was about just surviving, getting as many balls back in the court as possible and just run."

Wozniacki had dropped just 10 games leading up to the 5th round clash - seven of those coming against Maria Sharapova in the previous round - and looked on course for another comfortable win after taking the opening set with three breaks of serve.

However, Cibulkova, who had knocked out former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth round, recovered from an early break of serve to make life difficult for Wozniacki in the second set.

But the world number 45 was unable to get the better of Wozniacki`s sturdy defence when it mattered most and it was the 20-year-old Dane who produced the decisive break in the 11th game before holding her nerve to serve out for the match.

Asked about facing Zvonareva in the semi-finals, Wozniacki said: "She`s on a winning streak, playing really well, really aggressively, so it`s going to be a really tough match.

"She made the finals of Wimbledon and is now in the semi-finals here so she`s a great player and I`m going to go out there and do my best."

Zvonareva herself feels she still has more to offer after earlier beating Estonia`s Kaia Kanepi 6-3 7-5 in a scrappy contest on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The 26-year-old, who lost to Serena Williams in the final at Wimbledon in July, said: "I don`t question myself, I always believed in myself.

"I always believe. I`m just going out there and trying my best in every match. It`s been working pretty good for me so far.

"I guess I`m improving, I`m still improving. I`ve been playing for a while but I`m still out there and still working hard. I`m still improving and that feels great. I can go out there and I will try to work even more.

US Open 2010

Women`s Semi-Finals - To win match

• Caroline Wozniacki 1.30 v Vera Zvonareva 3.50
• Venus Williams 2.62 v Kim Clijsters 1.50

US Open 2010

Women`s - To win outright

• Caroline Wozniacki 2.10
• Kim Clijsters 2.75
• Venus Williams 5.50
• Vera Zvonareva 9.00