Samantha Stosur has been beaten by Venus Williams in Friday’s quarter-final of the Cincinnati Masters ATP/WTA event.
Williams reached her first semi-final of 2012 with the 6-2 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 win, which leaves Stosur scratching for form ahead of her US Open title defence.
The victory means 32-year-old Williams now has six wins from seven career meetings with Stosur, the Australian posting four wins and five losses since reaching the semi-finals of the French Open.
Williams, a seven-time grand slam winner, was delighted to get through.
“I’m happy to get a win over a top 10 player,” she said.
“It’s great to have this kind of a win you know you will be playing people on their games.”
A pair of third-round matches delayed or interrupted by Thursday night rain were concluded earlier on Friday.
Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat Danish sixth seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-4 while China’s Li Na reached the last eight by defeating Johanna Larsson 6-2 6-2.
On the men’s side, Toronto champion Novak Djokovic ran his record over Croatian Marin Cilic to 7-0 with his 6-3 6-2 victory for a semi-final spot.
The win hands Djokovic him a re-match of an Olympic disappointment as he faces Argentine Juan Martin del Potro after losing to the South American a fortnight ago in the London Games bronze medal match.
Del Potro moved through by defeating Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-1 6-3.
The Argentine has won his last two meetings with Djokovic.
Del Potro is trying to ignore problems with his left wrist but will have it checked out next week at the Mayo clinic in Minnesota before playing the US Open from August 27.
“I’m very confident with my doctor. He’s the best of the world about the wrist, so after here I will talk with him and we will see.
“The good thing, I’m not getting worse so I can play.
“But I want to hear what the doctor says, because I have experience on my other wrist (2010 surgery).”
Djokovic was pleased with the showing which put him into the final four as he prepares to defend his US Open title.
“It was a very good match, my best of the tournament. I’m on good form. I may have grown up on clay, but I’ve achieved my best career success on hardcourts.
“The match with Del Potro won’t be for revenge. This is sport, you win, and you lose. He is playing with confidence and it will be a big challenge to play him.”
