US Open: Safina happy to be villain in last four

VICTORIOUS AT LAST: Safina now awaits the winner of the clash between the Williams sisters.

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New York: Two days after crying with exhaustion, an energised Dinara Safina stormed into the US Open semi-finals for the first time and promised she would have no trouble being the villain against any opponent.

The Russian sixth seed, runner-up at the French Open and the Beijing Olympics, outclassed 16th-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-2 6-3 at Flushing Meadows on Wednesday to reach the last four.

Safina now awaits the winner of the clash between Wimbledon champion Venus Williams and her sister Serena.

Whichever American progresses is sure to be a big crowd favourite but Safina, who has reached the final in six of her last seven tournaments, was unperturbed.

"After being in China (at the Olympics) playing two times (against) Chinese?" Safina replied to reporters after being asked if she could handle a partisan atmosphere.

"And also being in Israel, playing an Israeli, it was even worse. So yes, I think so."

Safina, who was on the brink of exhaustion before beating German Anna-Lena Groenefeld in the previous round, hammered 25 winners against Pennetta and never allowed her opponent to establish a foothold in the match.

"I think today maybe I can say finally I'm happy with myself, the way I played, because really I did what I had to do," Safina said.

"I was aggressive on the court. I was following the ball every time. I think today finally I played my game."

The tears she showed in practice before the Groenefeld match were replaced by a smile and Safina was in upbeat mood in pursuit of her first grand slam title.

"Yesterday I was practising and I already had a smile on the face," she said.

"I was like:' Okay, now I can play and move...so now I can get only better'."

As for her semi-final, Safina was more concerned about her own game than which of the Williams sisters she would face on the other side of the net.

"It's going to be a big match," she said. "They're both playing good (but) I just want to focus again on myself, to give 100 percent and see who's going to be stronger."