Well, couple of potentially very interesting semi finals today:

Amelie Mauresmo v Maria Sharapova

Justine Henin-Hardenne v Jelena Jankovic


Well, the Amelie v Maria is a repeat of the Wimbledon semi final, where Amelie successfully employed a gameplan of drawing out the errors from Maria's power hitting by taking the pace off the ball and utilising her superb athleticism to either defend or/ and turn defence into attack, to great effect. I think that for many, this was real concrete evidence that she could really hold her nerve and tough it out when the stakes were raised.

Maria, however has been in superlative form during the hardcourt season, including an excellent win over Kim Clijsters who had herself been bulldozing everyone else during the season. She has looked in ominous form, and her 2 hour workout against Tati in the previous round I think will be just the warm up that she was looking for to enable her to raise her game, and get revenge against Amelie. She will be even more determined to finally get past the last 4 and make another slam final.

As for Justine against Jelena.. Well, Justine has to be the favourite here, as she has such a great all-round game. She may well prove to be too strong for Jelena, and is certainly less likely to play as poor a match as Elena did.. However, Jelena has beaten 3 top 10-seeded players already in this tournament and will be extremely high on confidence. How could she not be, having beaten Vaidisova, Kuznetsova and Dementieva already? What would make it really interesting is if Jelena were to take the opening set.

i'm hoping for a 3-setter in both matches, and think that the Amelie v Maria match could be the most difficult to predict. Form suggests Maria, but Amelie will certainly have a good gameplan lined up and of course has an excellent chance to make her 3rd slam final this year..

Thoughts??

I think an Amelie vs. Justine is the logical final.

However, I have a feeling it will be Maria vs. Justine, which I reckon could be a cracking match if their final earlier this season on the hard courts was anything to go by.

Great post Petlap.

I reckon the most likely outcome of today is a Henin v Mauresmo final but both matches - particularly the top half semi are too close to call.

Henin should have too much for Jankovic - she's been in great form this tournament and has gotten better & better - overall she has a +38 differential in winners to unforced errors which is very strong.

Her 1st serve % has creeped up in the last two matches - it was around 55% in the early rounds but it went up to 65% in the 4th round & QF's. Stunningly in her match against Davenport, one of the best returners in the game, she won 77% of points when her first serve went in & 61% of points on second serve - clearly signs that she is playing well.

Jankovic has done well but she hasn't played anyone like Henin and I don't think she'll have enough to beat her. Justine's main problem could be keeping focus & concentration.

Mauresmo v Sharapova is really up in the air.

The higher bounce here should help Maria who was bothered by Mauresmo's low slice at Wimbledon.

Cutting down the errors is key for Sharapova who just couldn't keep her rhythm at Wimbledon. She also needs to play her own game and not let Amelie dictate the match.

Hopefully we'll get some good matches - both have the potential to go to three sets though Mauresmo v Sharapova is the more likely to.

I meant to say i'd also love to see a Henin v Sharapova final as the contrast in styles should make for a great match. Plus they are both attacking players while Amelie can lapse into passivity sometimes.

It looks like Justine is in a bit of trouble. 4-2 down with Jelena to serve. It's just one break though - can Jankovic pull off the upset?

Henin races up to 0-40 on Jankovic's serve. Jelena manages to save one, but then mishits a forehand to give the break back to Justine. The set is on serve again!

Back on serve now, with Justine serving at 3-4. Each has been broken twice already.

But Jelena breaks right back, yet again, to serve for the match. (Though serving doesn't seem to be much of an advantage so far in this one.)

Another break, and we're on-serve again. :wacko: But if Jelena breaks here, it will be for the set.

And that's what happens. Another break gives Jankovic the first set 6-4.

(Seven breaks out of ten games. :blink: )

Jelena then grabs the early advantage in the second set by holding serve. :lol:

:D hehe

Well done to Jelena for taking the first set! Can she make it stick, and take the second to knock out Justine?

And we're back to swapping breaks again. After one break each, it's JHH serving at 2-3, but she's down 0-40 . . .

Just noticed on the scoreboard that Justine has 11 double faults!! Out of 27 second serves so far, that means she's only getting her 2nd serve in 60% of the time!


But she holds here, to even the set at 4-4.

JHH breaks for 5-4 after a marathon game

Justine gets the break :rolleyes:

JHH wins the 2nd set 6-4

This is the only annoying thing sometimes about JHH, once it goes into a decider, she isnt going to lose :rolleyes:

evening dl, wb, nick.. :)

JJ just has to go for it, and throw caution to the wind. I'd love for both of them to get some good clean hitting in the final set..

I'd agree though, JHH looks odd-on to prevail..

Regardless of the outcome, I think that JJ will have won some new fans.. :)

I would've like to see Jankovic win, be a bit refreshing to see someone burst through like that...........

Absolutely dl... She was beaten Kuzzy, Elena D, and Vaidisova... so a breakthrough of sorts? And from her form earlier in the match, she should hopefully have some belief that she has it in her to beat the likes of JHH..

It was just disappointing how she faded away so much later on in the match.. :(

Mauresmo is two breaks down 0-3 against Sharapova.

Make that 0-5 with Sharapova to serve - bagel alert?

And the bagel has landed.

Mhmm ... Maria serves Amelie a tasty bagel, but I'm sure it was much to her liking ...

I wonder whether Mauresmo can pull herself together and still take this in three? Or is Maria just too fired up this time?

Go Masha!!! (although i dont quite believe what i am seeing :o )

grrr... my live feed keeps freezing up. :badpc:

Anyway, still on serve at 1-1 in the second set, with Amelie serving.

back on duece mj

Looks as though Amelie woke up. She leads 5-4 (on serve) in the 2nd set.

Yep, Amelie seems more fired up now, and gives a little skip as she holds. Maria to serve to stay in the set.

0-30 :huh:

15-40 :o

Deuce :yikes:

What a game. Mauresmo goes up 15-40, but Maria battles back to deuce. But Amelie gets another set point, and she takes it with a great cross-court winner. One set all.

And we're all square at a set a piece. :blink:

:clap:

Go momo! :D

Well I see Justine's through to the final...shock horror! roflmao

I knew Jelena would give ehr a tough test though she is the only real form player of this years US Open Series Justine has had to face so far, teh predicted swatting aside seemed unlikely to happen to me. Jelena has had an amazing run but the better play won in the end.

Well this Momo Masha encounter is intruiging. Amelie has the momentum going into this thrid set but Masha must be pumped up even more now and ready to fight for it.

It puts into perspective Serena's form though even with low levels of fitness and so little match practice she still manages to bagel the number one and loses a close set 4-6 like the number 3 seed has just done. I hope she gets back to her best :pray:

Anyway back to the business at hand; who does everyone see winning the third set? It won't be as comfy as the Wimbledon semi for Momo, Masha wants revenge; I can see it her eyes.

Bye the way im also glad my wish was granted and we got two exciting three setters :)

Sod Momo roflmao

Cmon Masha save us from another Amelie/Justine final :pray:

2-0 Masha in the third! :blink:

If Masha keeps up her intensity I can only see her winning. But Momo can break up Masha's rhythym so we'll have to see.