US Open Day 14 Predictions: Women's Final and Men's Semifinals

After a dizzying night of controversial tennis, it's time for a day chock full of some real nice looking matches in the penultimate day of the US Open. 

Here we go:

Women's Final:

Caroline Wozniacki DEN (9) vs. Kim Clijsters BEL -- On paper, this doesn't look like it will be a particularly close final.  Kim Clijsters has played phenomenal tennis this week, notching wins over four seeds (including both Williams sisters). Caroline Wozniacki, on the other hand has made it this far by merely keeping the ball in play against erratic opponents.  That won't be enough against Clijsters, whose controlled aggression has seen her steamroll through this tournament with few errors but powerful shotmaking.  The US Open has gone thirteen years without a three set women's final, and I don't think this will be the one to break that streak. Clijsters,mother of a two-year old, playing in her first grand slam in over two years, should win her second US Open in her last two tries. In two sets.  Prediction: Clijsters in 2.

Men's Semifinals:

Roger Federer SUI (1) vs. Novak Djokovic SRB (4) --A rematch of the 2007 US Open final, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic meet in the semifinal.  Federer demolished Djokovic in their meeting three weeks ago in the finals of Cincinnati, and should be able to do the same here.  Federer hasn't looked completely untouchable in this tournament, but he has been able to win at least parts of all his matches with ease.  The good news for Djokovic is that he's playing well, and should be feeling no pressure whatsoever against the heavily-favored Federer.  Djokovic appears to be enjoying his tennis more now than he has at any point since winning the Australian Open, playing more loosely and confidently at the US Open than at any other point this year.  That mojo should get him a set, but nothing more.  Prediction: Federer in 4.

Rafael Nadal ESP (3) vs. Juan Martin del Potro ARG (6) -- This is a real nice match-up that offers a lot of appealing contrasts.  Youth vs. experience, height vs. bulk, offense vs. defense--these two have nothing in common but their similar commands of the English language.  Their previous two meetings were both won by del Potro on American hard courts, including a straight sets win over Nadal in the quarterfinals of Montreal only four weeks ago.  In that match, del Potro's hard, flat shots accelerated off the fast hard court and left Nadal with no time to effectively counter-punch.  del Potro is hitting his groundstrokes as hard as anyone in the game today, and if Nadal cannot hang in points long enough to physically wear del Potro down, he will not win this match.  Prediction: del Potro in 4.