Zhang Shuai reaches US Open doubles semifinals for first time

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It was a bittersweet Wednesday for China's tennis star Zhang Shuai on Day 10 of the US Open.

The 29-year-old cruised to the semifinals of the women's doubles for the first time in her career with Australian partner Sam Stosur after a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova.

Then despite a late rally, she and Australia's John Peers saw their run in the mixed doubles ended by Alicja Rosolska and Nikola Mekticiem, who won 2-6, 6-4, 10-7.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and partner Anastasija Sevastova are soundly beaten by Zhang Shuai and Sam Stosur during their women's doubles quarter-final at the US Open. /VCG Photo

In the women's doubles, the unseeded duos of Zhang and Stosur notched a comfortable opening set in which they dominated the early exchanges to open up a 4-2 gap. Pavlyuchenkova and Sevastova had a small window to fight back but failed after Zhang reeled off two games in a row to see out the opening set.

They carried their momentum into the second, establishing the lead early on at 3-1, and dodging Pavlyuchenkova and Sevastova's break points to close it out with confidence and seal their spot into the semifinals.

Up next for them is No.2 seeds Kristina Mladenovic of France and Hungarian star Timea Babos, who have known each other since they were ten years old.

It's likely that things won't be so smooth for Zhang and Stosur, who can expect a rough ride in the semifinals.