Hilfe » lia[/url] . After a tight first half, the Croat

Flushing Meadows, NY (Sports Network) - World No. 1 and defending champion Serena Williams put forth an utterly dominating performance to reach the semifinals of the U.S. Open, while Chinese star Li Na also advanced to the final four of the seasons final major during Tuesdays session. Williams faced no resistance from No. 18 seed Carla Suarez Navarro in her quest for a fifth career U.S. Open title and second straight, with the 16-time Grand Slam winner needing a mere 52 minutes to double-bagel the overmatched Spaniard 6-0, 6-0 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The American star won an astounding 88 percent of her first serve points and ripped off 20 winners to claim a berth in the semis, where Williams will face Li after the fellow 31-year-old outlasted 24th-seeded Ekaterina Makarova by a 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 count earlier in the day. "I played really good. I was just more focused than anything," Williams said humbly. Second-seeded Victoria Azarenka, who lost to Williams in last years outstanding final in Flushing, was a hard-fought fourth-round winner on Tuesday. The Belarusian stalwart overcame 13th-seeded fellow former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in just over two hours in a match that was postponed because of rain on Monday. Ivanovic staved off two match points and broke Azarenka to pull within 4-5 in the final set. In the next game, Azarenka broke right back after blowing a third match point before converting on a fourth when her Serbian counterpart netted one final two-handed backhand. "I was, like, sleeping," Azarenka said. "I really had to wake up in the second set and try to fight for points. "The match points were pretty bad. I really didnt go for my shots. I kept waiting for a mistake, and obviously it didnt happen." Azarenka is now 5-2 lifetime against the 25-year-old 2008 French Open champion Ivanovic, including a victory in California last month. The 24-year-old Azarenka, who is now 29-1 on hardcourts this year, will meet 30-year-old former top-10 star Daniela Hantuchova in a quarterfinal on Wednesday. The Slovakian Hantuchova edged out American fellow non-seed Alison Riske in three sets on Monday. Azarenka and Hantuchova have split four career meetings, but the Belarusian has won the last two, including a win at Indian Wells earlier this season. Azarenka is the two-time reigning Australian Open champion and lost to Serena Williams in last years U.S. Open finale. Meanwhile, the fifth-seeded Li fought off a stern challenge from the Russian Makarova in a match that lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes. The Chinese slugger recorded two of her seven service breaks in the third set, while Makarova failed to break Li in the deciding stanza of their quarterfinal. Li is the first-ever Chinese player to reach the final four at the U.S. Open. The 31-year-old Li was this years Aussie Open runner-up to Azarenka and captured the French Open and was an Aussie Open runner-up in 2011. Shell now appear in her fifth career Grand Slam semifinal (3-1). The 2013 U.S. Open champ will earn $2.6 million. The current world No. 1 Williams would claim an additional $1 million as a result of capturing the U.S. Open Series. New Balance Shoes Online Australia . She was 30. The former British No. 1 died peacefully surrounded by family and friends, the Womens Tennis Association said on its website. The Kyiv-born Baltacha, who represented Britain at the 2012 London Olympics, was diagnosed with the illness in January, two months after retiring from tennis and only weeks after she married her long-time coach Nino Severino. New Balance Clearance Australia . The 23-year-old McNabb was an All-Star with the American Hockey Leagues Rochester Americans this season, posting seven goals and 22 assists in 38 games. In 12 games with the Sabres this season, McNabb has accumulated six penalty minutes and a plus-1 rating. He has scored one goal and seven assists in 37 career games with the Sabres, who originally selected him in the third round (66th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. http://www.cheapaustralianewbalance.com/. Louis Blues and Buffalo Sabres came to an agreement on a big trade that may only offer incremental improvement to the Blues in their quest for a Stanley Cup. Cheap New Balance Shoes Australia .com) - Pavel Datsyuk and Gustav Nyquist both scored in the shootout as the Detroit Red Wings denied the Minnesota Wilds comeback bid with a 5-4 win on Tuesday. New Balance Sale Australia . After a tight first half, the Croatians took command in Reykjavik after Skulason was dismissed for a professional foul in the 51st minute, but couldnt find a way past Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson and his packed defence. Eduardo had a weak shot cleared away from near the goalline after barely a minute for Croatia, whose substitute Ivica Olic forced a fine reaction save from Halldorsson in the 55th.SAO PAULO - A group of Brazilian athletes is condemning the appointment of a new sports minister who has virtually no background in sports, saying the ministry is being used merely for political bargaining.The non-governmental organization Athletes For Brazil said Monday it was disappointed with last weeks decision by President Dilma Rousseff to replace Aldo Rebelo with George Hilton, who describes himself as a radio and television presenter, as well as a theologian. He is also an evangelical pastor.The 43-year-old Hilton, who will be the government official in charge of helping organize the 2016 Rio Olympics, had very few projects related to sports issues throughout his political career.Rebelo, who was in charge of Brazils World Cup preparations, is leaving to lead the Science, Technology and Innovation ministry.Athletes For Brazil said Dunga, Kaka, Dani Alves, Rogerio Ceni, Cafu, Leonardo, Jorginho and Rubens Barrichello are among its members.We demand a lot more respect and attention to everything related to sports in Brazil, something that is far from happening considering the criteria, or the lack of, used to choose the new minister, the organization said in a statement. Unfortunately, for years the sports ministry has been used for political bargaining. Its not about whos the best person for the job, its about which party has the right alliances.The organizationn said ministers have been chosen despite not having any familiarity with sports, which creates great damage to sports and to the country in a sector which is responsible for significant investments in mega events.ddddddddddddOn the eve of the Olympics, President Dilma relinquished an opportunity to improve sports, thus disappointing athletes, journalists, entrepreneurs, organizations, workers and sports lovers in general, Athletes For Brazil said.The Brazilian football confederation expressed its support for the new minister.Contrary to the opinion of some athletes, we have full trust in the appointment of Mr. George Hilton as the future sports minister, confederation president Marco Polo del Nero said. We should wait for his actions before we criticize him or not.Hilton is a member of the Brazilian Republican Party, which said the invitation to lead the sports ministry came as recognition for the partys good work heading the fishing ministry the last two years.Rebelo, a member of the Communist Party of Brazil, also had very few connections to sports when he took over the post. His administration was marked by a difficult relationship with FIFA before the World Cup, although in the end both sides worked well together and the tournament was considered a success despite minor setbacks.___Follow Tales Azzoni on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/tazzoni ' ' '