(CNN) -- Defending U.S. Open Champion Kim Clijsters came through a tough three-set quarterfinal on Tuesday to set up a last-four clash with former winner Venus Williams.
The Belgian battled past Australian Sam Stosur 6-4 5-7 6-3, while third seed Williams overcame Italy's Francesca Schiavone 7-6 6-4 to book her place in the semifinal.
Clijsters, 27, and 30-year-old Williams are both chasing their third titles at Flushing Meadows -- Williams having won in 2000 and 2000, and Clijsters in 2005 and after a break from the sport in 2009.
But Clijsters was made to work hard for her semifinal spot by number five seed Stosur, who took a 4-2 lead early on.
Clijsters came back to take the first set, but it was the French Open runner-up Stosur who had the momentum in the second to level the match.
In a windy night on the Arthur Ashe court both players struggled to cope with the conditions and racked up a total of 79 unforced errors and 15 breaks of serve.
CNN
