Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams

Defending US open champion Kim and former champion Venus Williams have both progressed to a semi-finals clash at the US open championships.

The Belgium battled past Australian Sam Stosur while the third seed  Williams beat Italy’s Francesca Schiavone in two sets.

Clijsters, 27 and Williams 30 are both chasing third titles at Flushing Meadows. Williams won in 2000 and 2001 and Clijsters in 2005 and again in 2009 after a break from tennis.

Clijsters had to work hard for her semifinal place with the match going to three sets 6-4 5-7 6-3. Williams found the going easier in the windy conditions on Tuesday night. She raced to a 4-0 lead put was pegged back to 4-4 before winning on a tie break.

Clijsters and Williams will now meet in Thursday’s semi-final for the 13th time in their careers, their head to head meetings are tied at 6-6. However Clijsters has taken the last four meetings between the two players.