US Open: Serena Williams closing in on historic title as she reaches semi-finals with victory over Simona Halep

SERENA WILLIAMS is closing in on the US Open title which would put her out on her own in the tennis record books.

Williams beat No 5 seed Simona Halep 6-2 4-6 6-3 to earn a semi final tonight against Karolina Pliskova.

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Two more victories will bring her an uncprecedented eventh US title and take her to 23 Grand Slam crowns overall, one ahead of Steffi Graf in the Open Era.

Williams raced through the first set but the second was much more competitive, with a number of long games.

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Halep saved seven break points in the second game and then broke her opponent to move 2-1 ahead.

She maintained the advantage and then saved five break points when serving for the set.

But after a tight start, Williams stepped it up in the decider to book her place in the last four.

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Williams said: “I feel great. I'm glad I got tested. The best part of it is I feel like her level really picked up in the second, but I had some opportunities that I didn't take.

“So what I gather from that is I really could have played better in that second set and maybe had an opportunity to win in straights.

“I think if anything, that's the biggest silver lining I take.”