It was a subdued atmosphere under the roof in the Arthur Ashe Stadium when Anastasija Sevastova fell over and rolled her ankle. Nonetheless, it was professional, clinical performance for the unseeded Caroline Wozniacki as she ended the Latvian's fairytale run. She advances to her fifth US Open semifinal.

The Latvian recorded scalps over French Open champion Garbine Muguruza in the second round and 13th seed Johanna Konta in the fourth round without dropping a set.

Wozniacki sails through the opening set

The Latvian was competing in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal and she won the coin toss and elected to serve. However, a lengthy opening game which produced 13, 18, 15 and 17 shot rallies, proved to be too much for Sevastova as Wozniacki took the initiative by breaking in a six-minute game with a backhand volley at the net on her second break point.

The Dane consolidated the break with ease to lead 2-0, however, Sevastova fell over and rolled her ankle but didn't seek medical treatment immediately but in the following game, Sevastova was clearly troubled by it and the Dane broke easily for the double break advantage leading 3-0.

Sevastova receiving medical treatment on her ankle (Photo by Alex Goodlett / Getty Images)
Sevastova receiving medical treatment on her ankle (Photo by Alex Goodlett / Getty Images)

Sevastova received medical treatment at the first sit down in the opening set with her ankle heavily strapped, and Wozniacki consolidated the double break with a forehand smash-winner to lead 4-0.

In the fifth game, the Latvian was clearly struggling with her movement, and the former world number one was taking advantage of this by extending the rallies. Sevastova committed a forehand volley at the net, followed by a gruelling 14 shot rally culminating with a backhand unforced error placed into the net, and another forehand volley in the net gave Wozniacki more break points.

The world number 48 saved one with a forehand winner in the corner but the inevitable happened with a backhand unforced error allowed the Dane to have the triple break at 5-0.

Wozniacki had two set points at 40-15 but a forehand error from her racquet followed by a forehand winner at the net from Sevastova snuffed them, But the Dane remained composed and took the opening set with a forehand volley winner at the net to take the opening set 6-0 in 31 minutes.

Classy Wozniacki seals semifinal berth

It remained to be seen if Sevastova was going to carry on the match as she was clearly hampered by an injury, and she immediately dropped her serve in the opening game in the second set with a backhand unforced error in the net.

Wozniacki consolidated the break with ease to secure her eighth consecutive game. Once again, Sevastova was struggling to hold onto her serve starting the game poorly with a backhand unforced error into the net, followed by Wozniacki's backhand crosscourt winner, and a forehand unforced error by Sevastova handed Wozniacki three more break points.

Wozniacki consoles Sevastova at the net (Photo by Alex Goodlett / Getty Images)
Wozniacki consoles Sevastova at the net (Photo by Alex Goodlett / Getty Images)

The Latvian looked dejected about the situation as she was not at 100 per cent, although, she saved one of the breaks with a backhand crosscourt winner, however, Sevastova's backhand unforced error in the net handed Wozniacki, the double break and ninth consecutive game leading 3-0.

The two-time finalist remained untroubled on her serve and extended her lead to 4-0 with the finishing line in sight.

Sevastova wins a couple of games

It seemed increasingly likely that Wozniacki was going to win her 11th consecutive game Sevastova saved three break points, an ace down the T and a backhand error from the unseeded Dane handed Sevastova her first game of the match with the delight of the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd but still trailed a set and 1-4 down.

The Dane appeared to be slightly rattled by Sevastova winning that game and an uncharacteristic backhand error followed by a double fault got the Dane down at 15-30 on serve. Three errors from Sevastova gave the Dane a 5-1 lead.

Wozniacki acknowledges the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd (Photo by Alex Goodlett / Getty Images)
Wozniacki acknowledges the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd (Photo by Alex Goodlett / Getty Images)

The unseeded Latvian was serving to stay in the match and she produced three back-to-back winners to hold serve for the second time in the match but was trailing 2-5.

Wozniacki was aided by Sevastova's errors when she was serving for the match and a tame forehand volley into the net handed the Dane a 6-0, 6-2 victory in 1 hour and 2 minutes to reach her sixth Grand Slam semifinal and fifth at Flushing Meadows.

Match stats

The former world number one got 80 per cent of her first serves in and had good success on her serve by winning 70 per cent of the points on her first serve and 75 on her second serve.

By contrast, Sevastova had a horror show committing 30 unforced errors and only 14 winners.

Next for Wozniacki

The two-time US Open finalist sets up a mouthwatering semifinal encounter with Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber. it will be the duo's first meeting at a Grand Slam, and the Dane trails the second seed 5-7 in their career meetings.

This victory for Wozniacki has catapulted her back inside the top 30 of the WTA rankings, and her quest for her first Grand Slam singles title continues.

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