Tennis News

No. 2 seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia did something in her semifinal against No. 5 seed Elena Dementieva that no one else had been able to do the entire tournament – she won a set. Not only did she win one, she won two 6-4, 6-4 - putting her into the women’s final.
 
This is the first time Jankovic has reached a Grand Slam final and in the early goings of the semifinal, things looked a little iffy.
 

Olympic gold medallist Elena Dementieva of Russia will take on Serbia's Jelena Jankovic at the U.S. Open semifinals on Friday afternoon while former champion Serena Williams battles Dinara Safina.
 
The fifth-seeded Dementieva is one win away from reaching her third career Grand Slam final, having been the runner-up in both the French Open and U.S. Open in 2004.
 

Tennis Week is partnering with legendary coach and New York native Nick Bollettieri to provide previews and in-depth analysis of the US Open. Nick's Picks for the women's semifinal matches are here. Look for Nick's Picks of the most exciting US Open matches on a round-by-round basis in the coming days and please visit his web site Nick's Picks. 
 

(5) Elena Dementieva (RUS) vs. (2) Jelena Jankovic (SRB)

For all the surprises of the past couple of weeks, the semifinal line-up is very much an all-star cast, comprising the Olympic champion, the winner of the Olympus US Open Series, the Wimbledon runner-up, and the supremely determined world No.2. All of them still have a shot at taking not just the title, but the top ranking as well. And all are in great form, which means the outcomes are truly impossible to predict.
 
Arthur Ashe
 

 There was a nasty, physical smackdown Thursday night in the New York metropolitan area, but it wasn't the NFL season opener.

Just a few dozen miles from Giants Stadium, where the Giants quietly dispatched the Redskins, a serious beatdown occurred at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Novak Djokovic, stoked by quotes from Andy Roddick that suggested he was faking a variety of injuries, throttled Roddick 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5) in the last men's quarterfinal match.

Friday, 5 September
Arthur Ashe Stadium

Not Before 1:30 PM
 2 Women's Singles - Semis
  Elena Dementieva (RUS)[5]    v.      Jelena Jankovic (SRB)[2]
 3 Women's Singles - Semis
  Dinara Safina (RUS)[6]    v.      Serena Williams (USA)[4]
 

Russia's Dinara Safina easily saw off Flavia Penetta of Italy at the U.S. Open tennis tournament at Flushing Meadows in New York to advance to the semifinals. Dinara plays eight-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams today. In the men's section, ATP No. 1 Rafael Nadal progressed to the semis to continue his U.S. Open campaign with Andy Murray of Britain.
 

Women's semi-finals day will have added spice to it at the U.S. Open on Friday with the carrot of the number one ranking looming large over the four remaining protagonists.
 
American Serena Williams, Russians Dinara Safina and Elena Dementieva and Serbian Jelena Jankovic can all replace another Serbian, Ana Ivanovic, at the top of the rankings by winning the title in New York.

Dementieva, Jankovic, Safina or Williams could wear women's crown
 
When Thomas Muster became No.1 in the ATP rankings in 1996, he was criticized because most of his ranking points were earned at clay-court tournaments.
 
At the time, the feisty Austrian defended himself by stating, “I did not buy my points in the supermarket.”
 

In pink top and matching cap, Serena Williams was back on the practice courts yesterday at 11am. There can be no resting on the laurels, even if you have played in what is regarded as the finest match against your elder sister and emerged with the spoils.