( CNN ) -- Maria Sharapova set up a U.S. Open semifinal clash with world No . 1 Victoria Azarenka after battling past French 11th seed Marion Bartoli on Wednesday . Third seed Sharapova was taken to three sets by the 2007 Wimbledon finalist , who had raced to a 4-0 lead in the first set when their quarterfinal match was halted by rain on Tuesday . Bartoli duly closed out the opener , but Sharapova fought back to claim the match 3-6 6-3 6-4 after two and a half hours . She has now won 12 successive times in matches that have gone to three sets since her third-round defeat in New York last year , and 24 out of 25 since the start of 2011 . `` I think the rain delay gave me some time to think about things , '' the French Open champion said . `` I came out so flat yesterday , and she was playing so well . I just played a bad four games , but I knew the match was n't over and had a chance to come back and turn things around . '' Sharapova will be seeking revenge for her thrashing by Azarenka in the final of the opening grand slam of the season in Australia , but has lost four successive matches in straight sets to the Belorussian on hard courts . `` Tough challenge , '' she admitted . `` She beat me in Australia quite easily and I would love to get my revenge at a grand slam . '' The Russian reached the last four at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2006 , when she claimed the second of her four grand slam successes . In June she beat Sara Errani in the final at Roland Garros to complete a full set of the majors , and she could potentially face the Italian again in a title match in New York . However , the 10th seed must get past the imposing figure of Serena Williams , who needed less than an hour to dispose of fellow former world No . 1 Ana Ivanovic in the closing quarterfinal . The American , seeking her fourth U.S. Open title but first since 2008 , demolished the Serbian 6-1 6-3 . `` I felt much better moving , '' said the Wimbledon and Olympic champion after winning 26 of her 29 first-serve points and firing 12 aces . `` I was excited I 'm moving faster . Feels good . I felt solid . `` I feel like I 'm going to get more focused and serious and start playing 'Serena tennis ' in the next couple of rounds , if I get to play two rounds . That 's my goal . '' Errani has lost all three meetings with the 14-time grand slam champion , with two of those on hard courts in 2009 . She became the first Italian to reach a grand slam semifinal outside of the French Open after beating compatriot , best friend and doubles partner Roberta Vinci 6-2 6-4 . `` A quarterfinal with your best friend is difficult , '' Errani said . `` There was a lot of tension . We know each other very well and have played together many times . `` Normally when we walk out on the court we go together and we speak -- today was a bit strange , especially to see her on the other side of the net . '' They have reached the semifinals of the doubles event in New York , and next week Errani will be ranked as the format 's top player for the first time , with Vinci No . 2 . `` It 's the best year of my life . I 'm playing very well and my ranking is very high , '' said the 25-year-old , who has won four singles titles in 2012 . `` I just go on the court , fight the best I can and that 's it -- and by winning more matches I get more confidence , and with that you go on the court thinking you can win more than before . '' Meanwhile , 12th seed Ivanovic was able to take positives from her defeat , having reached the last eight of a grand slam for the first time since her breakthrough victory at the 2008 French Open . `` Overall I 'm very satisfied , '' said the Serbian , who had never before featured in the New York quarterfinals and who at one stage dropped out of the top 50 . `` I played some really good tennis to get into this position , and even tonight I felt I was striking the ball so nicely on both sides . That 's something I 've worked hard for . It 's a big step for me . ''
Serena Williams battles past Marion Bartoli in New York Open quarterfinals . Australian third seed into semis for the first time since her 2006 title in New York . She will face world No . 1 Maria Sharapova , who beat her in Russian Open final . Olympic champion Serena Williams will play Sara Errani in the other semifinal .