AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2008: Women's Semifinals

The 2008 Australian Open Women's semifinals are now set. Unfortunately, Mad Professah incorrectly predicted 3 of the 4 women's quarterfinal match results. This was mainly due to two shockingly disappointing performances by Venus and Serena Williams. The following post serves as both a Women's Quarterfinal review and Women's Semifinals preview.

Maria Sharapova RUS (5) vs. Jelena Jankovic SRB (3) Serena Williams USA (7). Although I did not predict this result I am not disappointed to see it. You can put me in the "Anybody but Henin" crowd. However, I hope that Jankovic doesn't think that it was defending champion Serena Williams that she beat in the quarterfinal on Tuesday. The imposter who called herself Serena couldn't get her serve over 100 mph for most of the match, was clearly limping and not reacting to the ball's location or movement. Regardless, she did well to win the match and possesses formidable skills of her own. Sharapova's dismantling of the current World #1 player in the world, which included a bagel stuffed down the throat of the powerful, diminutive Belgian was a delight to behold. Only an in-form Williams Sister could have handled and probably overcome that onslaught, but sadly noe of those are left in the tournament, and it'sdoubtful any of themshowed up to play in Melbourne this year. Interestingly, Sharapova and Jankovic have only played four times in their career, but only once in 2007, which is the only match of the four that Jankovic has won, a close 3-setter on grass. Instead of the fourth consecutive grudgefest at major tournament between Justine Henin and Serena Williams that I predicted would occur, this top half of the draw produces a sparkling opportunity for an excellent match-up between power and finesse. Typically, in such a match-up I tend to go with power (which is why I am a fan of and predict wins for, the Williams Sisters). However, Jankovic is a great mover and thinker on the court; she will not be overwhelmed by her second major Grand Slam semifinal. Jankovic has the game and the weapons to make it close, but if the Sharapova who beat Henin shows up to play then the results will not be in Jelena's hands, but Maria's. PREDICTION: Sharapova in 3 sets.

Venus Williams USA (12) Ana Ivanovic SRB (4) vs. Daniela Hantuchova SVK (9). The bottom half of the draw was left tantalizingly wide-open with the early exit of the mentally fragile Svetlana Kuznetsova. Especially since she was playing someone who she had never lost to in her quartfinal, Venus Williams looked like a shoo-in to her second Australian Open final. Unfortunately, the Ana Ivanovic she met was not the same player Venus beat in two consecutive Grand Slam tournaments last year. This Ivanovic had no fear of the net, was blasting winners from every part of the court, deep into the corner and with extreme pace. And she demonstrated excellent defensive retrieving skills. There was really not much Venus could have done, even if she had been playing at 100%, which she clearly wasn't. Hantuchova easily dispatched Aggie Radwanska and will be playing in her first Grand Slam semifinal. Last year Hantuchova and Ivanovic played 3 times last year on 3 different surfaces, with the Slovak winning on grass, while the Serbian won the next two matches on carpet and indoor hardcourts. Ivanovic has clearly now reached the top of Womens' Tennis and is comfortable with her position.

Hantuchova on the other hand took 5 years to win her second WTA Tour title after winning her first as a precocious teenager over Hingis in 2002. She is well-known as an excellent ball-striker and part of the vanguard of "Big Babe" tennis so famously coined by ESPN commentator Mary Carillo. Although, it's really hard to describe Hantuchova as "big" she's mostly lanky. She is also known as an extremely emotional, nervous player. It is very likely she will be overwhelmed by the occasion of finally reaching her first major semifinal and if the new Ana Ivanovic is here to stay, then there will be at least one Serbian in the Australian Open final on Saturday. PREDICTION: Ivanovic in 2 sets.