Rafael Nadal (ESP)[1] vs Novak Djokovic (SRB)[3]

For the third straight year, the US Open ends on a Monday.  Hope most of you will be able to see at least some of it.

Hello and welcome to Day 12 of the US Open.  Only one session today, but I think it has to be one of the best tickets to be had the whole year.  The men's doubles final kicks things off, this time with a hugely anticipated match between the Bryan Brothers and the incredible team of Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, who I talked to back in Washington, and who now are making huge headlines in India and Pakistan.  And after that, the two women's semifinals are to be had, both of which should be real nice contest.

As per usual, follow my thoughts on the day via Twitter, @DailyForehand .

Schedule after the jump:

Continue reading this post »

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)[1] v Vera Zvonareva (RUS)[7] -- Through the first five matches she's played at this US Open, the top seed has fit Caroline Wozniacki quite well (definitely better than that dress).  She's played confident, consistent tennis, and except for some mild frustration in the wind against Cibulkova, hasn't let anything rattle her.  She possesses the ability to never beat herself, which is worth an incredible amount in the WTA.  But Vera Zvonareva is also playing the best tennis of her career, and won't back down easily.  Wozniacki beat Zvonareva 6-3, 6-2 in the finals of Montreal only two weeks ago, but that match was played the same day as the semifinals were due to rain, so it might not be entirely indicative of what's going to happen.  What makes me think that Wozniacki is going to win this match is her incredible performance that she turned in against Maria Sharapova in Monday's fourth round.  Sharapova hit some double faults, sure, but I see no way that Zvonareva is able to hit more powerfully or consistency than Sharapova could.  Prediction: Wozniacki in 2.

Venus Williams (USA)[3] v Kim Clijsters (USA)[2] -- The two have played twice during this most recent Clijsters incarnation, both on American hard courts, and both times with Clijsters coming out victorious.  As telling as that should be, there are some definite asterisks to be found if you're looking.  Williams was injured in their more recent encounter (the Miami final), and the early one was a 6-0, 0-6, 6-4 roller coaster that wasn't good for anything but causing seasickness.  The two look to be pretty even in their form this tournament as well, with Clijsters at her most convincing against Ana Ivanovic, and Venus at her most convincing against Francesca Schiavone.  If the wind is as bad it has been the past two days, I think that helps Clijsters, who is much more willing to reel in her shots than is the always low-margin Venus.  I don't have much of an idea who will win, but I am sure it will be phenomenal stuff.  The two previous times a Belgian faced a Williams in the semifinals of the US Open (Venus-Henin 2007 & Serena-Clijsters 2009), it was the match of the year.  Let's hope this edition can live up to that. Prediction: Clijsters in 3.

Hello and welcome to the Day 10 Open Thread.

For the first time, all the singles action will be on Ashe today. 

As always, follow me on Twitter for my thoughts on the day's doings. (@DailyForehand)

Schedule after the jump:

Continue reading this post »

Quality over quantity is the idea in the second week of slams, which is why we have only four matches on tap for Wednesday's Day 10 action at the 2010 US Open.  I think the two women's matches could be quite lopsided, but the men could put on a pretty good show.

Kaia Kanepi (EST)[31] v. Vera Zvonareva (RUS)[7] -- Vera Zvonareva is really piling together a nice last two slams, making consecutive quarterfinals for the first time in her career.  But Kanepi has made consecutive quarterfinals as well.  In Kanepi's last match against Wickmayer, she showed the key skill often needed to beat Zvonareva--the ability to wait for a meltdown.  I don't think this one will come to that, though.  Zvonareva has been making routine work of the hand she's been dealt thus far, and is simply a steadier and faster player than Kanepi.  Unless Zvonareva comes out of the gate missing wildly, I don't see this one being interesting.

Gael Monfils (FRA)[17] v. Novak Djokovic (SRB)[3] -- Gael Monfils has taken advantage of a pretty nice draw (he's the only player remaining in either draw not to have faced a seed).  But his luck largely runs out against Novak Djokovic, who despite some early hiccups has really rolled nicely as this tournament has progressed.  The one possible thing that could swing in Monfils direction is heat, since we all are now well aware of the woes that high temperatures cause Djokovic.  But it should remain in the low 80s or so all day, so I think Novak has this one.  His ability to switch form neutral to offense is much better than Monfils', who I see getting sucked into defense on the cavernous Ashe court.

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)[1] v. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) -- Two players who do not quite epitomize Mary Carillo's notion of "Big Babe Tennis" meet for a spot in the semifinal.  Like her higher ranked opponent, Cibulkova knows how to play solid, "you miss" defense.  She has more of a tendency to go for power shots, though, but isn't nearly as timely or accurate with them as Wozniacki is.  The difference could be Wozniacki knowing better when to pick her spots, and if that disparity is significant, this one could be over in a real hurry.  Games-wise, anyhow.  Though it might be lopsided on the scoreboard, there could be a lot of long, long rallies in this one.

Robin Soderling (SWE)[5] v. Roger Federer (SUI)[2] -- This match doesn't need any introduction, but I'll introduce it anyway...because that's what I'm doing here.  Robin Soderling halted Roger Federer's incredible streak of twenty-three consecutive grand slam semifinals at this year's French Open when he beat Federer in the quarterfinals.  It was an important milestone in Federer's career, and it was also pretty telling that no one seemed particularly surprised by the result.  Soderling pushed Federer to the brink of a fifth set  Soderling has lost to either Federer or Nadal at five of the last six slams, so he's been incredibly consistent and workman-like at making it into those marquee matches.  The two have not played since Federer's loss in Paris, but all the same I think some advantage has to go to Federer.  He's never lost a night match at the US Open, and he's on a nine-match win streak.  That said, I won't be surprised either way.

Hello and welcome to Day 9 action at the 2010 US Open.

With only six singles matches on tap for today, doubles matches have begun to move onto the two big stadiums.  All the same, only singles matches will be found after the jump: