Intro:

Maria Sharapova and Novak Djokovic were both victories in their rain-delayed matches, while there were also wins for Sara Errani and Janko Tipsarevic on day 10 at Flushing Meadows.

Script:

Heavy showers meant a delay to the start of Wednesday's action at the US Open.

When play did get underway Italy's Sara Errani managed to book her place in the semi-finals with a straight sets victory over compatriot and close friend Roberta Vinci 6-2 6-4.

Things were a lot less straight forward for Maria Sharapova as she was forced to come from a set down to win her rain delayed match against 11th seed Maron Bartoli 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Sharapova will now face top seed Victoria Azarenka in the semi-finals.

In the men's singles Janko Tipsarevic closed out a victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber in straight sets - in another match spread over two days.

The eighth-seeded Serb came through 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-2 to set up a quarter-final encounter with fourth seed David Ferrer.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic also advanced to the quarter-finals after fourth round opponent Stanislas Wawrinka retired when trailing in the third set.

Djokovic was leading 6-4, 6-1, 3-1 when Wawrinka ended the match. It was not immediately clear why the Swiss star couldn't continue.