Serena beats older sister Venus with two tiebreakers to reach semifinals

NEW YORK -- So little to separate them over their careers, so little to separate them on this night.

Serena Williams barely got the better of older sister Venus Williams in a U.S. Open quarterfinal that was fit for a final, coming back in each set to win 7-6 (6), 7-6 (7) on Wednesday and break a tie in their head-to-head series.

Serena trailed 5-3 in both sets. She faced set points in both -- a total of 10, including eight in the second. But she advanced to the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2002, the year she beat Venus in the title match for her second U.S. Open championship.

"I felt like I was always in control," Venus said. "If it was someone else, I definitely feel like I would have won the match."

It was the siblings' 17th meeting as professionals, and Serena leads 9-8. That includes 11 matches at Grand Slam tournaments, where Serena leads 6-5.

She also has the edge in major championships, 8-7, and only she can add to that total this weekend.

"It's really just unfortunate it had to be in the quarters," Serena told the crowd, saying later: "I mean, I feel like I should have a trophy now."

In the semifinals, the fourth-seeded Serena will meet No. 6 Dinara Safina, who advanced earlier in the day by overpowering No. 16 Flavia Pennetta 6-2, 6-3. No. 2 Jelena Jankovic will face No. 5 Elena Dementieva in the other semifinal Friday.

Serena is relieved after winning against her sister for the sixth time at a Grand Slam event. (AP)

Tough to imagine either of those contests could come close to producing the quality or competition managed Wednesday by a couple of sisters who grew up honing their strokes on the same court in Compton, Calif. Both played brilliantly. Venus smacked serves at up to 125 mph, Serena at up to 115 mph. They somehow returned those. They hit groundstrokes and volleys that would be the envy of nearly every other woman on tour. They chased down balls with "You thought that was a winner?!" defense.

In the end, they were separated by three total points, 101-98. Venus had an 8-7 edge in aces. Both double-faulted five times. Both broke serve twice.

"It was so intense," Serena said.

The seventh-seeded Venus had all sorts of chances to take control, but in the end, as both women's play reached a very high level, it was Serena who pulled through. In the second tiebreaker, Venus had four set points -- and Serena saved them all.

"I'm a very good closer," Venus said, "so today was, um -- I've never had a match like this in my life, so I guess there's always a first."