Venus Williams powers into Indian Wells semifinals

Venus Williams is one win away from her first Indian Wells final.

The 37-year-old American powered into the semifinals with a clinical 6-3 6-2 win over Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro in today’s quarterfinals.

Williams dominated on serve, hitting three aces and dropping only nine points, as she wrapped up the first set in 36 minutes.

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The world No.8 maintained her momentum in the second set, breaking in the opening game. But the dogged Suarez Navarro, who had three wins against Williams in their eight previous meetings, broke back immediately.

.@Venuseswilliams is into the @BNPPARIBASOPEN semifinals for the first time since 2001!

She downs Suarez Navarro, 6-3, 6-2! #BNPPO18 pic.twitter.com/IXQlUNEcWC

— WTA (@WTA) March 16, 2018

Williams stayed composed, effortlessly using her powerful ground strokes to dictate play and break again in the fifth game. Suarez Navarro continued to fight, forcing Venus to save three break points in the sixth game to consolidate her lead.

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With the finish line in sight, Williams powered to victory. She broke again in the seventh game before closing out the match in one hour, 11 minutes.

Williams last reached the final four in the Californian desert in 2001, when she famously withdrew ahead of a semifinal showdown with younger sister Serena. After the crowd was hostile towards Serena in the final, the sisters boycotted the tournament for many years. Venus made her return in 2016.

Down 0-40, @Venuseswilliams saves all three break points and holds!

She's zeroing in on the finish line! #BNPPO18 pic.twitter.com/U4bnZCzcBd

— WTA (@WTA) March 16, 2018

“This is my first breakout tournament when I was 16,” she said after her quarterfinal win.

“To come back and get this far again and be getting closer to hopefully a title, it’s like a dream come true.”

Rising Russian Daria Kasatkina awaits in the semifinals. The 19-year-old No.20 seed, who had upset No.2 seed Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round, demolished former world No.1 Angelique Kerber 6-0 6-2 in Thursday’s earlier quarterfinal.

World No.1 Simon Halep and Japan’s Naomi Osaka meet in the other semifinal.