Nadal, Azarenka reach US Open semis

Rafael Nadal and Victoria Azaranka, seeded second for the men's and women's pools, respectively, chalked up comfortable victories en route to the 2013 US Open tennis semi-finals.

Nadal Wednesday needed only 100 minutes to overwhelm Spanish compatriot Tommy Robredo, who had eliminated five-time US Open champion Roger Federer 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 in the previous round here, reports Xinhua.

"I'm sure that's the way I have to play to keep having chances to be successful in every surface, but especially on this one," said Nadal. "I was able to do it today. I hope to be able to do it in two days."

Nadal has won 20 straight matches on hard court in this season.

The eighth seed Richard Gasquet became the first Frenchman to reach U.S. Open men's singles semi-finals in 14 years after beating David Ferrer from Spain 3-2.

Ferrer lost the first two sets 3-6, 1-6, but battled back in the following two - 6-4, 6-2 to level the score.

Both players worked hard to keep their service games in the fifth set. Gasquet forced two break points in the sixth game, and the 27-year-old Frenchman seized the first one to establish a 4-2 lead.

Ferrer and Gasquet then held serve until the ninth game, in which Gasquet hit a couple of big serves to end the match 3-2.

Nadal was to meet Gasquet in the semi-finals.

Azarenka, 24, brushed aside Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 6-3, becoming the only player under 30 years old in women's last four. The World No.2 set up a battle against Italian veteran Flavia Pennetta, who beat 10th seed Roberta Vinci in an earlier match.