New York: Serena Williams quest at more tennis history was put on hold yesterday as the US Open women’s semi-finals were postponed, officials pushing back the matches to today due to forecasts of rain in New York.

Top-ranked defending champion Williams now will play Italy’s 43-ranked Roberta Vinci in today’s second semi-final after Romania’s second-ranked Simona Halep faces Italian 26th seed Flavia Pennetta in the opener at Arthur Ashe Stadium starting at 11am. (6pm Bahrain time).

The winners will meet in tomorrow’s final.

Men’s semi-finals today were delayed two hours to 5pm (midnight Bahrain time) to allow for the extra matches.

The delays come in the final uncovered year for Arthur Ashe Stadium, which starting next year will have a retractable roof to avoid any bad weather postponements.