Carreno Busta, Stephens charge into US Open semifinals

New York: Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta cruised into his first Grand Slam semi-final and American Sloane Stephens matched her best Slam showing by reaching the last four Tuesday at the US Open.

Carreno Busta, who has not dropped a set, downed Argentinian 29th seed Diego Schartzman 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 while 83rd-ranked Stephens outlasted Latvian 16th seed Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4).

“I just told myself to keep fighting and stay consistent,” Stephens said. “I knew if I just stick with it and stayed in every point I knew I'd have my opportunity and I did.”

Stephens, who missed 11 months with a left foot injury before returning at Wimbledon, has won 13 of her past 15 matches entering a Thursday semifinal against a later winner between two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and seven-time Grand Slam trophy-lifter Venus Williams.

“I’m getting teary-eyed,” Stephens said.