Roberta Vinci points to doubles success

Roberta Vinci believes her experience of winning grand slam doubles titles was the key to helping her overcome Kristina Mladenovic in Tuesday's US Open quarter-final.

Italian Vinci made the last four in the singles of a grand slam for the first time in her career thanks to a hard-fought 6-3 5-7 6-4 triumph on Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing Meadows.

While the 32-year-old has struggled to make an impact in singles throughout her career, she won five slam titles in doubles alongside compatriot Sara Errani.

And Vinci said her knowledge of big-pressure situations was crucial against an opponent 10 years her junior in a match that lasted over two-and-a-half hours in New York.

"It's an amazing moment for me, it's unbelievable," Vinci told ESPN. "It's my first semi-final in my career. It was an incredible match, so tight, but I fought a lot.

"Kristina played so good and at the end probably we both were a little bit tight and a little bit scared about the match, but I'm so happy and I don't have words to say.

"Me and Sara, we won five grand slam [titles], so we play on this court and the other centre courts, so we are a little bit more confident to play in this situation."