The US Open has been a stomping ground for Italian female tennis players in recent years, but Flavia Pennetta's journey to the last four has been one of the more unexpected successes.

Italy has had a woman in the last eight for each of the past six events at Flushing Meadows and this year it was unseeded Pennetta who beat 10th seed compatriot Roberta Vinci to reach the first Grand Slam semifinal of her career.

It was the fourth quarterfinal appearance at Flushing Meadows for Pennetta but the first that she has won and comes a year after she needed major wrist surgery.