After rain brought about an hour and 25 minute rain delay, Simona Halep advances to the US Open semifinals for the first time in her career, winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, where Flavia Pennetta of Italy takes awaits the Romanian. 

Second seed takes easy first set

Victoria Azarenka played some really good tennis in that first game, moving her opponent from side-to-side, opening the court up by hitting corner-to-corner shots and would get the break on Simona Halep's first service game of the afternoon. The two seed would fight back in the next game though, becoming more aggressive on returns and breaking Azarenka to get back on serve -- she would hold first serve on the next opportunity given. 

In the fourth game of the set, the Belarusian really started to find her groove, hitting a blazing backhand down the the line to just comeback and level the game at 30-all. Azarenka then was not really hitting the shots that she was earlier in the match and that allowed Halep to be more aggressive. As a result of this, she got a second break, going up 3-1. The 20th seed was cruising, getting an easy hold in the following game. Despite not getting another break in the set, Halep served the set out, getting the opposition into some uncomfortable positions on the court. 

Azarenka battles to stay in match

The tides turned in the second set, however, which was one of the reasons that makes this sport so great. Despite a double fault from Victoria Azarenka, giving Simona Halep an opportunity to close in on the Belarusian's service game, the two seed was unable to catch up to a blistering shot that won the opening game. Azarenka was excellent in Halep's first service game of this set, was aggressive with her returns, going from corner-to-corner again and playing drop shots when necessary. These efforts were rewarded and got an early break playing very similarly. After an easy hold from Halep, she would go on to twin six consecutive points to get back onto serve and making this set closer than it would have been, down 3-2. 

It was six straight points for Halep, who was two points away from getting a break back. Halep started a foot behind baseline, but caught up to Azarenka's poor drop shot to hit a winning passing shot to set up three break points. A good second serve from the Romanian to stay in the game, down 15-40, but was not able to come back and went down 2-4. One thing that the Romanian will have to work on in the next round is taking advantage of her break points. She had a chance to break Azarenka in the ninth game of the set and actually converted one of her few breaks; unfortunately, Azarenka got some help off of Halep's unforced errors in the next game, losing the set 4-6.

Third set interrupted by rain  

Simona Halep was up 0-30 early in the third after Azarenka double faulted; an unforced error though would cut the lead in half and after two great second serves, the game would be brought back to deuce. This first game took awhile for it to be completed after some fantastic tennis being played by both women. Azarenka hit a blistering forehand down the line after one of the best rally of the afternoon gave her the advantage, Halep though would fight back. She faked like she was going to hit the ball one way but at the last second hit the ball the other way to bring it back to deuce. The Belarusian would eventually take the first game.

Then the pair would break each other, as is typical of the women's game, and Azarenka took a 2-1 lead. Up 40-15 in Halep's next service game, the rain would come. Once the courts were dried and the women were ready, there was no momentum lost, and the Romanian aced to win the game and draws things level at two. 

After fighting back from 0-30 down, Azarenka played a great drop shot after seeing how far behind the baseline Halep was and set up break points; got the break and held an early advantage. More high-quality tennis was being played after the interruption with 20-shot rallies; it was Halep, however, who got a break, went up 4-3, and was in control the rest of the match. To end the match, Victoria Azarenka hit a very soft forehand that landed softly wide after another long rally. 

This was a great match from Simona Halep, she proved that she can battle against even the toughest competitors while having enough drive and focus to finish strong despite the weather conditions.