Sep 3, 2008, 20:13 GMT
New York - Olympic silver medalist Dinara Safina moved to within two victories of duplicating her older brother's 2000 US Open title as she moved into the semi-final on Wednesday 6-2, 6-3 over Flavia Pennetta.
The Russian sixth seed dropped Italy's number 16 in just over an hour, overcoming two double-faults in the final game as she served out the victory.
Pennetta saved one match point but returned a second long to exit in her first quarter-final at a major.
Safina will face the winner form the all-sister showdown between former champions Venus and Serena Williams.
'I'm getting closer to reaching what my brother (Marat Safin) accomplished,' said Safina, who has a chance at the number one ranking should she win the event and Jelena Jankovic does not advance beyond the semi-finals.
'It would be nice to have the same title as him.'
Safina said she is unworried by which Williams she might face. 'They are both sisters, whomever wins I will play.'
She struck 25 winners against 19 unforced errors as she beat the 17th-ranked Pennetta for the fifth time without a loss. Safina has claimed 20 of her last 21 matches.
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