Semi Finals Men's US Open 2011 predictions

The Semi Finals of the men's US Open is today and here are my predictions.

Match 1 -  Novak Djokovic   vs   Roger Federer

Roger Federer

Ranking - 3

YTD record - 42-11

Best US Open - Winner, 2004,  2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Previous matches

Round 1 vs Giraldo - 6-4, 6-3, 6-2

Round 2 vs Sela - 6-3, 6-2, 6-2

Round 3 vs Cilic - 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2

Round 4 vs Monaco - 6-1, 6-2, 6-0

Quarter Finals vs Tsonga - 6-4, 6-3, 6-3

Novak Djokovic

Ranking - 1

YTD record - 57-2

Best US Open - Final, 2007, 2010

Previous matches

Round 1 vs Niland - 6-0, 5-1 ret

Round 2 vs Berlocq - 6-0, 6-0, 6-2

Round 3 vs  Davydenko - 6-3, 6-4, 6-2

Round 4 vs Dolgopolov - 7-6(14), 6-4, 6-2
Quarter Finals vs Tipsarevic - 7-6(2), 6-7(3), 6-0, 3-0 ret

Head to Head

Federer leads 14-9

Federer won their last match, the first match Djokovic this year, at the French Open, but 3 other times this year Djokovic has prevailed, including once at the Australian Open.

Predictions match 1

The world number 1 has played brilliantly this year as well as at this tournament. Last round he held back tough competition against Tipsarevic and dropped his first set in a tie breaker. He will now face a tough match against the world number 3. Federer routed Tsonga in a potentially tough match and has only dropped one set all tournament against Cilic. He will try to get confidence from his last match against Djokovic, at the French Open. 
Conclusion - This is an incredibly hard match to predict but I just have a feeling that Federer can overcome Djokovic in 5 sets.

Match 2 - Rafael Nadal   vs   Andy Murray

Rafael Nadal

Ranking - 2

YTD record - 53-10

Best US Open - Winner, 2011

Previous matches

Round 1 vs Golubev - 6-3, 7-6(1), 7-5

Round 2 vs Mahut - 6-2, 6-2 ret

Round 3 vs Nalbandian - 7-6(5), 6-1, 7-5

Round 4 vs Muller - 7-6(1), 6-1, 6-2

Quarter Finals vs Roddick - 6-2, 6-1, 6-3

Andy Murray

Ranking - 4

YTD record - 34-10

Best US Open - Final, 2008

Previous matches

Round 1 vs Devvarman - 7-6(5), 6-2, 6-3

Round 2 vs Haase - 6-7(5), 2-6, 6-2, 6-0, 6-4

Round 3 vs Lopez - 6-1, 6-4, 6-2

Round 4 vs Young - 6-2, 6-3, 6-3
Quarter Finals vs Isner - 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2)

Head to Head

Nadal leads 12-4

Nadal has won his last 4 meetings against Murray, 3 of which were this year.

Predictions match 2

The 4th seed has been in quite good form this tournament. He has dropped 3 sets, the most of any semi-finalist, and has had the easiest draw, only facing 2 seeds, neither being highly ranked, however, Isner has been in form recently. Nadal has been in imperious form and is looking unbeatable at the moment, being the only player yet to drop a set. He destroyed Roddick with an incredible display of tennis. 
Conclusion - I can't see Nadal losing more than a set in this match. Murray is just not good enough and can't match up to Nadal's form.

Today we will find out who wins these matches

Semi Finals Women's US Open 2011 predictions

Match 1 -  Caroline Wozniacki   vs   Serena Williams

Serena Williams

Ranking - 27

YTD record - 16-2

Best US Open - Winner, 1999, 2002, 2008

Previous matches

Round 1 vs Jovanovski - 6-1, 6-1

Round 2 vs Krajicek - 6-0, 6-1

Round 3 vs Azarenka - 6-1, 7-6(5)

Round 4 vs Ivanovic 6-3, 6-4

Quarter Finals vs Pavlychenkova - 7-5, 6-1

Caroline Wozniacki

Ranking - 1

YTD record - 53-12

Best US Open - Final, 2009

Previous matches

Round 1 vs Vives - 6-3, 6-1

Round 2 vs Rus - 6-2, 6-0

Round 3 vs King - 6-2, 6-4

Round 4 vs Kuznetsova - 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-1

Quarter Finals vs Petkovic - 6-1, 7-6(5)

Head to Head

S Williams leads 2-0

Williams has won both matches between these two but they were both back in 2009.

Predictions match 1

The world number 1 has played well here and will be hoping to gain her first Grand Slam. She passed her first test against Kuznetsova in 3 sets and beat Petkovic in straight sets. Williams has been unstopable here and is yet to drop a set, she is definitely the favourite.

Conclusion - I think this could be a close match and I think that Williams will beat Wozniacki in 3 sets.

Match 2 - Sam Stosur   vs   Angelique Kerber

Sam Stosur

Ranking - 10

YTD record - 31-18

Best US Open - Semi Finals, 2011

Previous matches

Round 1 vs Arvidsson - 6-2, 6-3

Round 2 vs Vandweghe - 6-3, 6-4

Round 3 vs Petrova - 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 7-5

Round 4 vs Kirilenko - 6-2, 6-7(15), 6-3

Quarter Finals vs Zvonareva - 6-3, 6-3

Angelique Kerber

Ranking - 92

YTD record - 15-18

Best US Open - Semi Finals, 2011

Previous matches

Round 1 vs Davis - 7-6(3), 6-3

Round 2 vs Radwanska - 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

Round 3 vs Kudryavtseva - 6-3, 6-1

Round 4 vs Niculescu - 6-4, 6-3
Quarter Finals vs Pennetta 6-4, 4-6, 6-3

Head to Head

0-0

They are yet to play each other.

Predictions match 2

Stosur has had some tough matches this tournament, beating 3 seeds. She needed 3 sets against both Kirilenko and Petrova but routed the second seed, Zvonareva in straight sets. Kerber is having an amazing tournament, making it past a Grand Slam 3rd round for the 1st time and has made it all the way to the semis now, beating 2 seeds Radwanska and Pennetta in 3 sets.
Conclusion - I think Stosur is the favourite here to win in two close sets, one a tie breaker, but Kerber has pulled off a few upsets this tournament.


Today we will find out the results for these matches.