NEW YORK-- Big-hitting Marin Cilic blasted his way past sixth seed Tomas Berdych 6-2 6-4 7-6 (4) and into the U.S. Open semi-finals on Thursday.

Cilic, who pounded out 19 aces, had his Czech opponent under pressure right from the start, breaking Berdych at the first opportunity in the first two sets to grab a 2-0 lead.

Berdych turned the tables on the 14th-seeded Croatian in the third and raced out to a 3-0 lead but Cilic, relying on his booming serve, broke back and forced a tiebreak before clinching the match with a thundering ace and forehand winner on the final two points.

BARI -- Italy gave new coach Antonio Conte a flying start on Thursday, taking 10 minutes to equal their goal tally for the entire World Cup as they won a friendly in Bari against a depleted Netherlands, who were playing their first game under Guus Hiddink.

Mario Balotelli, dropped by Conte after the maverick striker's World Cup performance drew barely-veiled criticism from his own team mates, was scarcely missed as the lively forward line of Ciro Immobile and Simone Zaza pestered the Dutch rearguard in a convincing 2-0 win.

Conte, however, will be wary of reading too much into the performance as the contest effectively ended in the 10th minute when the Dutch were reduced to 10 men and Italy scored their second goal.

Netherlands, semi-finalists at the World Cup, were missing Arjen Robben, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Rafael van der Vaart in the first match of 67-year-old Hiddink's second stint in charge.

The impressive 48,000 crowd in Bari had barely settled into their seats when Immobile latched onto a long ball over the Dutch defence, swept past goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen and scored into an empty net after only three minutes.

Daniele De Rossi converted a penalty seven minutes later after debutant forward Zaza was fouled by Bruno Martins Indi, who was harshly sent off, after the Dutch were caught out again.

"Apart from the result, I wanted to see a response from the boys and it was certainly positive in terms of effort, aggression and the football ideas we want to bring forward," Conte told Rai television.

"There are mature players here and also youngsters who can become great champions. There is a very long way to go, but as I always say, winning helps."

Italy were reeling from their first-round exit at the World Cup when they managed only two goals in the entire campaign, their worst tally since 1966.

Cesare Prandelli, whose contract ran until 2016, immediately quit and said that Italians had lost interest in their national team, who have won four World Cups.

Determined to prove otherwise, the famously competitive Conte immediately installed the 3-5-2 system he used at Juventus, where he won three Serie A titles in as many years in charge.

Italy, dominating the match against off-colour opponents, could have added to their tally before halftime.

Cillessen stopped Zaza's side-footed effort after Immobile had set him up, then Zaza returned the compliment by chesting the ball down for Immobile who fired over the bar.

Robin van Persie sent a low drive across the face of goal in a rare Dutch attack early in the second half, but Italy were closer to a third when substitute Mattia Destro headed wide from Manuel Pasqual's inviting cross.

Italy never let up and were pressing deep into the Dutch half even in the last 10 minutes of the game.

"More than a special team, I had special men tonight," said Conte, whose team visit Norway for their opening Euro 2016 qualifier on Tuesday. "I am convinced that with hard work we can achieve good things."

BARI -- Italy gave new coach Antonio Conte a flying start on Thursday, taking 10 minutes to equal their goal tally for the entire World Cup as they won a friendly in Bari against a depleted Netherlands, who were playing their first game under Guus Hiddink.

Mario Balotelli, dropped by Conte after the maverick striker's World Cup performance drew barely-veiled criticism from his own team mates, was scarcely missed as the lively forward line of Ciro Immobile and Simone Zaza pestered the Dutch rearguard in a convincing 2-0 win.

Conte, however, will be wary of reading too much into the performance as the contest effectively ended in the 10th minute when the Dutch were reduced to 10 men and Italy scored their second goal.

Netherlands, semi-finalists at the World Cup, were missing Arjen Robben, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Rafael van der Vaart in the first match of 67-year-old Hiddink's second stint in charge.

The impressive 48,000 crowd in Bari had barely settled into their seats when Immobile latched onto a long ball over the Dutch defence, swept past goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen and scored into an empty net after only three minutes.

Daniele De Rossi converted a penalty seven minutes later after debutant forward Zaza was fouled by Bruno Martins Indi, who was harshly sent off, after the Dutch were caught out again.

"Apart from the result, I wanted to see a response from the boys and it was certainly positive in terms of effort, aggression and the football ideas we want to bring forward," Conte told Rai television.

"There are mature players here and also youngsters who can become great champions. There is a very long way to go, but as I always say, winning helps."

Italy were reeling from their first-round exit at the World Cup when they managed only two goals in the entire campaign, their worst tally since 1966.

Cesare Prandelli, whose contract ran until 2016, immediately quit and said that Italians had lost interest in their national team, who have won four World Cups.

Determined to prove otherwise, the famously competitive Conte immediately installed the 3-5-2 system he used at Juventus, where he won three Serie A titles in as many years in charge.

Italy, dominating the match against off-colour opponents, could have added to their tally before halftime.

Cillessen stopped Zaza's side-footed effort after Immobile had set him up, then Zaza returned the compliment by chesting the ball down for Immobile who fired over the bar.

Robin van Persie sent a low drive across the face of goal in a rare Dutch attack early in the second half, but Italy were closer to a third when substitute Mattia Destro headed wide from Manuel Pasqual's inviting cross.

Italy never let up and were pressing deep into the Dutch half even in the last 10 minutes of the game.

"More than a special team, I had special men tonight," said Conte, whose team visit Norway for their opening Euro 2016 qualifier on Tuesday. "I am convinced that with hard work we can achieve good things."

NEW YORK-- Russian left-hander Ekaterina Makarova made her best mark in grand slam singles by outslugging Victoria Azarenka, the U.S. Open runner-up the last two years, 6-4 6-2 on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the U.S. Open.

The 17th-seeded Russian was steadier and more explosive with her big groundstrokes in dismissing the 16th seed from Belarus and advancing to the last four of a major for the first time after four losses in the quarter-finals stage.

Boldly going for winners at every opportunity against the former world number one, Makarova pressured Azarenka to a dozen break points and cashed in twice in each set for her victory.

"I'm feeling amazing. Finally I'm in a semi-finals, finally I'm here," the 26-year-old Makarova, who is better known for her doubles exploits, told the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. "It's a great feeling."

Makarova has hoisted major trophies but always as part of a partnership, as winner of the French Open doubles in 2013 with Elena Vesnina and in mixed doubles at the 2012 U.S. Open with Brazilian Bruno Soares.

The Russian, however, has thrived on her own racket in Flushing Meadows in the year's last grand slam by advancing without the loss of a set, eliminating seventh seed Eugenie Bouchard in overbearing heat in the process.

Makarova, who won her second career singles title at this year's Pattay City event in Thailand, will meet either two-time defending champion and top seed Serena Williams or 11th seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy for a berth in the final.

No Excuses

Azarenka, a two-times winner of the Australian Open, showed some rust from a season marred by foot and knee injures that forced her to withdraw from seven events and sent her ranking plunging from number two to 17th.

She also showed some frustration, earning a warning for racket abuse after being broken to fall behind 4-2 in the second set when her backhand tipped the net cord and landed just wide.

"Give credit to my opponent," the charismatic 24-year-old Belarussian told reporters in a hushed voice. "She played really well today. Am I disappointed? Yes, but I tried my best."

Azarenka's agent said on Twitter that she had suffered from a case of food poisoning on Tuesday but the 16th seed refused to comment.

"I'm not going to make any excuses," said Azarenka, who led their head-to-head series 3-2 but had won their previous two matches on hard court. "She deserves to win. She played much better than me today."

It was an entertaining match between two aggressive, power hitters but Makarova proved much steadier with her service game as she faced just three break points in the match, saving two, and took advantage of six double faults.

Azarenka drew first blood, breaking in the fifth game of the first set at 3-2 but Makarova broke right back, and broke again in the 10th game as she took advantage of loose groundstrokes from the Belarussian.

Makarova dominated the second set, keeping up the pressure after Azarenka saved four break points in the second game and two more in the fourth to remain level at 2-2.

The Russian finally broke through on Azarenka's next serve and clinched the quarter-final by breaking in the final game for an emphatic end to her 87-minute victory.