NEW HAVEN, CT - AUGUST 22: Daria Gavrilova of Australia returns a shot to Timea Babos of Hungary during their match on Day 5 of the Connecticut Open at Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale on August 22, 2017 in New Haven, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Australian Daria Gavrilova has won her way through to the semi-finals of the Connecticut Open as she continues her preparations for the US Open.

Gavrilova defeated Belgium player Kirsten Flipkens 6-2, 6-4 to set up a meeting with China's Shuai Peng.

The US Open is the only Grand Slam that the 23-year-old is yet to advance past the first round, having been eliminated at the first hurdle in both 2015 and 2016.

The final Slam of the year begins on Monday.