U.S. Open Semifinal Matchups

The semifinals of this year's U.S. Open are finally here. No surprises on the men's side as the top four seeds are all that remain, but Caroline Wozniacki, who has never won a Grand Slam, is the only woman in the top eight still standing. Here's a quick breakdown of today's semifinal matchups.

Photo Credit: gemtennis.com

MEN

(1) Novak Djokovic - Croatia vs (3) Roger Federer - Switzerland

This will be the 5th time that these two heavyweights have clashed this year. Djokovic took the first three matches including a win in straight sets at the Australian Open, but Federer defeated the 24 year old Serbian at the French Open snapping Djokovic's 41-match unbeaten streak in 2011. Overall Federer and Djokovic have met 23 times over the past 6 years with Federer owning the edge in the series, 14-9. This will also be the 5th straight U.S. Open where these two have ended up facing off against one another. Federer knocked Djokovic out of the tournament in 2007, 2008 and 2009, while Djokovic won last year in 5 sets in the semifinals. Federer is a 5-time winner at the U.S. Open winning every tournament between 2004 and 2008 whereas Djokovic has never won it reaching the finals twice in 2007 and 2010 losing to Federer and Rafael Nadal respectively.

(2) Rafael Nadal - Spain vs (4) Andy Murray - Great Britain

Nadal owns a 12-4 edge in his career against Murray including win's at this year's French Open and at Wimbledon. Murray, despite being ranked 4th in the World, has never won a Grand Slam losing in all three finals that he's played in including this year's Australian Open. Murray's been to the U.S. Open Finals once, losing to Roger Federer back in 2008. Nadal, on the other hand, is in search of his 11th Grand Slam win. While the majority of his Slam wins have come at Roland Garros, Nadal is the reigning U.S. Open Champion having defeated Federer in last year's final in 4 sets. This will only be the second time that these two have faced each other in U.S. Open play with Murray winning in the semifinals back in 2008.


WOMEN

(1) Caroline Wozniacki - Denmark vs (28) Serena Williams - USA

The number one ranked woman in the world has never won a Grand Slam, and has played in just one final in her career. Despite being by far the highest seeded player remaining on the women's side, her road to the finals isn't going to be easy as she'll have to get through the last American standing, three-time U.S. Open Champion Serena Williams. The two women have only faced each other twice, but Serena won both matches back in 2009. The U.S. Open is the only Grand Slam in which Wozniacki has reached the finals losing to Kim Clijsters in straight sets in 2009.

Angelique Kerber - Germany vs (9) Samantha Stosur - Australia

The 23 year old Kerber is quite the cinderella story. Ranked 92nd in the world coming into the tournament, she hadn't advanced beyond the first round in this year's first three Grand Slams. In her career, she'd only made it to the 3rd Round of a Slam twice. But she's been on a role in this year's U.S. Open knocking off seeded players Agnieszka Radwanska (12) and Flavia Pennetta (26) to reach the semifinals. She'll face Stosur who is playing in just her 3rd Grand Slam semifinal and who has bounced back nicely from a crushing first round loss to 262nd ranked Melinda Czink in the first round at Wimbledon. He tournament run includes an upset of 2nd seeded Vera Zvonareva in the quarterfinals. Stosur and Kerber will be playing one another for the first time.