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Kim Clijsters Fights into Semifinal at US Open

US Open - Women's Quarterfinal

2 Kim Clijsters d 5 Samantha Stosur - 63 57 63

That. Match. Was. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly.

There is only so much you can blame the wind for those errors.

Ugly.

Kim wins her 19th straight match at the Open tonight.

Kim's into her 14th Sf in a Slam: 6-7. And her 4th at the Open: 3-0.

She will next face familiar foe Venus Williams - H2H: 6-6.

Oh, did I mention that the match tonight was... ugly?

Photos: Getty Images

Samantha Stosur Wins 4th Round Match at US Open

US Open - Women's Fourth Round

5 Samantha Stosur d 12 Elena Dementieva - 63 26 76(2)

Easily the best match of the women's tournament thus far.

You know you're watching something special when both save match points.

Well, except I didn't watch it - I was out drinking. Way too much.

Previous to this year Sam had a W/L at the Open of 2-6. She's now 6-6.

Nice to see her play well somewhere other than at Roland Garros.

She will next play #2 seed & defending champ Kim Clijsters - H2H: 3-0/KC.

Tune in, this could be a fun one tomorrow.

Photo: Reuters

Kim Clijsters Storms into Quarterfinal at US Open

US Open - Women's Fourth Round

2 Kim Clijsters d Ana Ivanovic - 62 61

FIFTY-NINE MINUTES

Ok. I think we all knew Kim would win but not quite this easily.

Kim is on an 18 match winning streak at the Open. Winning in '05 & '09.

In 8 trips to Flushing the defender has reached the Qf's 5 times: 3-1.

She'll next face the winner of tonight's Dementieva/Stosur match.

Against both ladies combined she is H2H 14-3 (Elena: 11-3, Sam: 3-0).

As for Ana - she's played pretty well this summer.

She lost 1st round at the Open last year so her ranking will get a nice bump.

She'd be well served to use the rest of the season to get more match tough.

Vanity Fair Serves Up a Tennis Player Photo Spread

Hey, well done Vanity Fair! See the other photos at their website.

 

 

 

Photos: Justin Bishop for Vanity Fair

Stosur & Dementieva Set Up 4th Round Match at US Open

US Open - Women's Third Round

5 Samantha Stosur d Sara Errani - 62 63

12 Elena Dementieva d 24 Daniela Hantuchova - 75 62

Elena was down 2-5 facing 2 set points - then won 11 of the next 13 games.

5 Samantha Stosur vs 12 Elena Dementieva - H2H: 4-1

This was probs the Roland Garros final if Elena hadn't retired her Sf match.

This will be the 3rd time they've met in a Slam: 1-1.

Sam has never before been past the 2nd round at the US Open.

Elena is a former finalist ('04) & has been to the Sfs 3 other times.

Thanks in advance for a great match ladies.

Photo: Reuters

US Open: Four Interesting Day One Matches

Tomorrow. Here we go. Two weeks of Open fun. And NO rain. Please.

***

Daniela Hantuchova vs Dinara Safina - H2H: 3-6

What planet am I on when Dinara is the lower ranked of the two?

Dinara has won their last 4 matches - including in New Haven last week.

***

5 Samantha Stour vs Elena Vesnina - H2H: 0-1

Elena's win came last year in New Haven - that's not too long agao.

Since her French Open run to the final Sam's only been to 2 Sf's & 2 Qfs.

***

13 Jurgen Melzer vs Dmitry Tursunov - H2H: 0-2

Jurgen is riding a career high. Dmitry is on the comeback trail at #482.

Bad news for Dmitry: In 4 tournaments back he's only won 1 match.

***

Melanie Oudin (above) vs Olga Savchuk - H2H: 1-0

Talk about pressure - 1st up on Day 1 on Arthur Ashe.

Also, an early loss and Mel's ranking (#43) will take a big hit.

COURAGE.

Photo: Oudin with Andy Roddick & Novak Djokovic at Kids Day yesterday.

The Power of the Women's Tennis - In Slow Motion

This is NOT TO BE MISSED... The New York Times put together 7 video clips of top players (Serena, Kim, Jelena, Vera, Sam, Elena, Victoria) plying their trade. Please go HERE to see all 7. Go watch them, I'll wait. Stunning, huh?

Here is the one starring Jelena Jankovic.

Flavia Pennetta Leads Semifinalists at WTA San Diego

Flavia put the beat down on #2 seed Samantha Stosur yesterday.

***

San Diego WTA Semifinals

4 Agnieszka Radwanska va Daniela Hantuchova - H2H: 3-2

Drought: Agie hasn't won a tournament since Eastbourne in '08.

This is her 4th Sf of '10: 0-3, including last week in Stanford.

Drought: Daniela has not won a title since Linz in '07.

This is her 3rd Sf of '10: 1-1. She was the runner-up in Monterrey.

***

5 Flavia Pennetta (above) vs Svetlana Kuznetsova - H2H: 0-3

Flavia has 9 WTA titles - when did that happen?

I mean, maybe we should be calling her the Queen of the Tier IV's!

Sveta only has 13 titles - but in much higher profile events - like 2 Slams.

Sveta shocker: this is her FIRST (yes, first) Sf of the 2010 season.

Photo: Reuters

Samantha Stosur Leads Semifinalists in Stanford

Stanford WTA Semifinals

1 Samantha Stosur vs Victoria Azarenka - H2H: 0-3

All 3 of those Victoria wins were before Sam became Sam.

This is Sam's 6th Sf this season: 3-2. She is looking for her 2nd title of '10.

This is Victoria's 4th Sf this season: 2-1. Her last title came in Miami '09.

***

3 Angieszka Radwanska vs 5 Maria Sharapova - H2H: 1-4

Maria toughed out a near 3 hour match (d Dementieva) last night - a factor?

Maria is looking for her 4th final of 2010 - she's won 2 already this season.

Agnieszka has not been to a final this year. Her last title was Eastbourne '08.

Photo: Getty Images

Samantha Stosur Upset 1st Round at Wimbledon

Kaia Kanepi d 6 Samantha Stosur - 64 64

Samantha has played Wimbledon 8 times & has lost 1st round 4 times.

An Aussie who's best surface is clay and not grass? Has the grass turned blue?

And I thought Sam's draw was good enough for a decent run this time around.

She lost 3rd round last year so she may drop a ranking spot or two from #6.

She is playing doubles with Nadia Petrova - she made the dubs final in '09.

Photo: AP

Kim Clijsters is ONLY Seed to Advance Today at Eastbourne

5 Kim Clijsters d Yanina Wickmayer - 61 61 - 2nd Round

She crushes her fellow Belgian in her 1st match back from injury.

Kim joins Sam Stosur & Marion Bartoli as the only seeds in the round of 16.

Now check out this mess of seeded losers today (not good ladies):

Aravane Rezai d 1 Caroline Wozniacki - 64 16 63

Victoria Azarenka d 4 Agnieszka Radwanska - 76(2) 61

Elena Baltacha d 7 Li Na - 76(2) ret.

Q Ekaterina Makarova d 6 Flavia Pennetta - 76(5) 61

Sorana Cirstea d 2 Francesca Schiavone - 75 63

Photo: Getty Images

Samantha Stosur & Francesca Schiavone Play for French Open Title Tomorrow

7 Samantha Stosur vs Francesca Schiavone - H2H: 4-1

Fran won the 1st meeting in '05 - Sam won the rest including their 2 on clay.

One of these ladies will leave Paris as a first time Grand Slam winner.

And not many folks are giving Fran a chance - but you never know...

They both have a title on clay in '10: Sam in Charleston, Fran in Barcelona.

Win or lose Fran will break into the top 10 for the first time.

Fran is the first Italian woman in the history of tennis to reach a Slam final.

Aussie Sam will do her best to keep her from a dream title for Italy.

An Aussie lady hasn't won a Slam since Goolagong at Wimbledon in 1980.

Sam is also trying to become the 2nd straight 7th seed to win (Kuznetsova).

I dearly hope this turns into a 3 set thriller. I don't care who wins. I like both.

Photo: Getty Images

Samantha Stosur Storms into Final at Roland Garros

7 Samantha Stosur d 4 Jelena Jankovic - 61 62

I got up early for these two semifinal matches?

That was a complete demolition of the #4 seed - JJ outplayed from ball one.

Anyone give Fran any chance on Saturday? Can she win more than 3 games?

Sam has been a giant killer taking out in order: Justine, Serena and Jelena.

She lost in the semis last year - this year makes her 1st Slam final.

Sam is having a great clay season going 20-2 including a title in Charleston.

She is looking to become a 1st time Slammer since Ana Ivanovic here in '08.

As is Francesca Schiavone.

Photo: Getty Images

Women's Semifinals ALL SET TO GO Tomorrow at Roland Garros

We are going to get a new Slam champion this weekend - that's excitement.

You have to go back to RG in '08 and Ivanovic's title for a new Slammer.

*****

4 Jelena Jankovic vs 7 Samantha Stosur - H2H: 3-1

They are 1-1 in '10. Jelena won in Indian Wells - Sam got her back in Miami.

This is Jelena's 3rd RG semi and 6th in a Slam - she is 1-4.

In her previous RG semis she lost to eventual champs: '07 Henin, '08 Ivanovic.

Stosur lost her RG semi last year to eventual champ Kuznetsova.

This match should be an absolute thriller as both ladies are playing great ball.

*****

5 Elena Dementieva vs 17 Francesca Schiavone - H2H: 6-4

Elena has won the last 3 matches - Fran last beat Elena back in '07.

Francesca has never been to a Slam semi. This years Majoli? Or Myskina?

Elena is considered to be the best player not to win a Slam. Her moment?

This is her 8th Slam semifinal - she is 2-5 including a final at RG in '04.

This is Elena's 46th consecutive Slam tournament (123-46). That's a wow!

*****

My heart wants JJ & Elena on Saturday.

Photo: Dementieva's Qf Win - Reuters

Preview: Women's Quarterfinals Set at Roland Garros

*** TOP HALF ***

1 Serena WIlliams vs 7 Samantha Stosur - H2H: 3-1

Her title in '02 was the 1st leg to her 'Serena Slam' - she wants a real one.

This is Serena's 30th Slam quarterfinal - she is 18-11.

This is Stosur's 2nd Slam Qf - she won her other one last year at RG.

This match has the potential to be a real barn-burner.

***

4 Jelena Jankovic vs Yaroslava Shvedova - H2H: 2-1

Shvedova is the gal who beat Jankovic at the US Open last summer.

Shvedova is ranked #36 and barely missed being a seeded player.

Jankovic is a 2 time semifinalist at RG. She is still looking for her 1st Slam.

*** BOTTOM HALF ***

3 Caroline Wozniacki (above) vs 17 Francesca Schiavone - H2H: 0-1

That match was played 2 years ago before Caroline was Caroline.

Francesca played her 1st RG in '01 & made the Qfs - this is her 2nd.

This is Fran's 4th Slam Qf - she has yet to win in this round.

***

5 Elena Dementieva vs 19 Nadia Petrova - H2H: 7-7

Elena has won the last 4 and 6 out of 7 matches played.

This is Elena's 3rd trip to the Qfs at RG (1-1). She was runner-up in '04.

Nadia is looking to move into her 3rd RG semifinal.

Photo: Wozniacki - Getty Images

Sam Stosur takes out Justine Henin & gets Serena Williams next at Roland Garros

 

1 Serena Williams d Shahar Peer - 62 62 - 4th Round

Serena advances to her 7th RG Qf - she is 2-4 in Qf matches.

She and Venus are also in the doubles quarterfinal - they won in 1999.

Serena is the lone American man or woman in the quarterfinals.

***

7 Samantha Stosur d 22 Justine Henin - 26 61 64 - 4th Round

Stosur snapped Justine's 24 match win streak at RG.

She is into her 2nd quarterfinal here - she made the semis last year.

Who knew Sam's best surface was gonna turn out to be clay?

As for Justine - I suspect she will make quite an impression at Wimbledon.

***

1 Serena Williams vs 7 Samantha Stosur - H2H: 3-1

This will be a very interesting match. I see it as dead even.

Serena is trying to keep her calendar Grand Slam dream alive.

Photos: Reuters

Venus Williams & Jelena Jankovic Lead Quarterfinalists in Madrid

Tomorrow's Quarterfinal Matches

16 Nadia Petrova vs Lucie Safarova - H2H: 3-0

This is both ladies 3rd straight quarterfinal this year, both are 0-2.

7 Jelena Jankovic vs Aravane Rezai - H2H: 2-0

This is Jelena's 5th quarterfinal of 2010 - she is 2-2.

***

4 Venus Williams vs 8 Samantha Stosur (above) - H2H: 3-0

Three of those wins include 2 on clay - but nothing recent.

13 Li Na vs Shahar Peer - H2H: 2-1

Peer got the last one - in Dubai early this year.

*****

Today's Results

7 Jelena Jankovic d Anabel Medina Garrigues - 62 60
8 Samantha Stosur d Patty Schnyder - 76(3) 62
13 Li Na d Alona Bondarenko - 63 64
Shahar Peer d WC Arantxa Parra Santonja - 75 62
Aravane Rezai d Andrea Petkovic - 64 76(8)

Photo: Samantha Stosur - Reuters

Justine Henin Wins WTA Title in Stuttgart

And a new Porsche.

WC Justine Henin d 7/WC Samantha Stosur - 64 26 61

Justine has played 5 tournaments so far in her return to competitive tennis.

In them she has reached 3 finals and today finally broke thru to win one.

This is her 42nd WTA title and first since Antwerp in February '08.

Justine can park that car next to the one she won as the '07 champ.

She's skipping Rome this week & just playing Madrid before heading to Paris.

At Roland Garros she will surely be seeded in the top 16.

Elena Dementieva can finally sigh in relief.

Photo: Getty Images

Justine Henin & Samantha Stosur to Play for Stuttgart Title

WC Justine Henin vs 7/WC Samantha Stosur - H2H: 0-0

Justine is looking for her 42nd title and her 1st since Antwerp in Feb '08.

Samantha is going for her 3rd career title and 2nd in '10.

Both gals certainly seem to be strong contenders at Roland Garros next month.

***

Semifinal Results

7/WC Samantha Stosur d Q Anna Lapushchenkova - 75 63

WC Justine Henin d Shahar Peer - 63 62

Photos: Getty Images

Stuttgart WTA: Friday's Results

Quarterfinal Results

Shahar Peer d Dinara Safin - 63 62

Not to worry Dina, it's gonna take a couple tourneys.

WC Justine Henin d 4 Jelena Jankovic - 36 76(4) 63

Is this the beginning of the journey to a 5th Roland Garros title?

7/WC Samanatha Stosur d Li Na - 63 63

Suddenly Stosur seems like a real threat Paris.

Q Anna Lapushchenkova d Lucie Safarova - 76(1) 16 61

I got nothin'.

Photo: Getty Images