Dinara Safina in the Semis Us Open 2008

Dinara Safina secured a semi final spot after defeating Italian opponent Flavia Pennetta pretty comfortably. The Russia sixth seed was played at her prime, while Flavia Pennetta, who was playing his first grand slam quarter final match, seemed to be the shadow of her excellent form of previous rounds. Italian 16^th seed surrendered to Safina in striahgt set 6-2, 6-3. In the first set, Pennetta failed to produce any challenge in the first set as she was broken twice by Dinara Safina.

Her older brother Marat Safina won the US Open men's title in 2000.

Safina advanced to the semi-finals where she will play the winner of a match between the American Williams sisters Serena and Venus.

The 22-year-old Safina continued her domination over Pennetta, raising her career record over the Italian to 5-0. Wednesday's match on the main Arthur Ashe Stadium was a repeat of the 2008 Los Angeles final which Safina won in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.

The six-foot-one Safina needed just 71 minutes to reach her first US Open semi-final in seven tries as she closed out the match on her second match point when Pennetta hit a backhand long.

Safina has had a breakthrough season in 2008 winning three titles and reaching the final of six of her past seven tournaments.

Pennetta, seeded 16th, won two singles titles this year in Vina de Mar and Acapulco, Mexico.

At the 2008 French Open she upset Venus Williams to reach the fourth round for the first time at the Roland Garros before losing to Suarez Navarro.