30 is the New 20 as Vinci, Pennetta and Hantuchova Advance to U.S. Open Final Eight

It appears 30 is the new 20 in the women's draw at this year's U.S. Open, as victories on Monday by Roberta Vinci, Flavia Pennetta and Daniela Hantuchova meant that five of the eight U.S. Open quarterfinalists will be over 30 years of age (Serena Williams and Na Li are the others). Vinci, the 10th seed, defeated fellow Italian Camila Giorgi, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the quarters for a second successive year.

"I knew that it was a tough match," said Vinci. "She [Giorgi] played good. She play always strong, flat, and I knew that I had to play I have to change a lot of my focus."

Pennetta, now ranked at 83rd in the world, made the last eight for a fourth time with a 6-2, 7-6 straight set win over the number 21 seed, Simona Halep, and will tackle childhood friend Vinci in the quarterfinals. Halep was serving at 5-4 in the second set with a set point when torrential rain caused a suspension of play for more than four hours. When play resumed, Halep couldn't keep the momentum she had and Pennetta capitalized. Pennetta has never advanced to the semifinals in a major. With the win, Pennetta advanced to her fourth Grand Slam quarterfinal, and all of them at Flushing Meadows, in 2008, 2009, 2011 and now in 2013.

Hantuchova, who last made the quarterfinals as a teenager in 2002, defeated American wild card Alison Riske 6-3, 5-7, 6-2. Hantuchova took control of points and played aggressively throughout. She hit 15 aces and 46 winners. Hantuchova, now ranked 48th in the world after being as high as five in 2002, will face either world number two Victoria Azarenka or Serbian 13th seed Ana Ivanovic for a place in the semifinals. The match between Ivanovic and Azarenka, originally scheduled for Monday, was pushed back to Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. when the two are scheduled to play at Arthur Ashe Stadium. 

"Alison played extremely well at the end of the second set—I'm just really proud of the way I fought back into it in the third, and raised my level when I needed to," Hantuchova said. "Obviously the serve was working really well today. I think that was the main difference throughout the match today."

Credit all photos to Adam Wolfthal

Italy's Roberta Vinci discusses her upcoming quarterfinals match against fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta

American Alison Riske in her Round of 16 loss Monday afternoon to Daniela Hantuchova

Daniela Hantuchova advanced to the 2013 U.S. Open quarterfinals on Monday