Serena Williams (USA) [1] vs Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) [17] Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [16]. 17-time major champion Serena Williams is only 2 matches away from her long-awaited 18th major title, and 3rd consecutive in New York City. Standing in her way is the lefty Russian who was on the other side of the net when Serena's run in the doubles with her sister Venus Williams came to an end on Tuesday in the quarterfinals. Serena boasts a clear 3-1 head-to-head lead on Makarova. However, that one win came in a grand slam (2012 Australian Open) so Serena knows better than to take this match-up lightly. Makarova is playing some of the best tennis of her life, having reached her first major semifinal of her career. However, there are only four people who have more than win against Serena Williams in a major (Venus, Jennifer Capriati, Justine Henin and Samantha Stosur). Does anyone think that Ekaterina Makarova is going to be added to this list? PREDICTION: Williams.
Shuai Peng (CHN) vs Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) [10]. Both players are playing some of the best tennis of their lives. Peng still has not dropped a set through 5 rounds of play here and has been one of the best doubles players in the world for the last year. Wozniacki's resurgence has been well-documented and clearly came to fruition with her gutsy 3-set win over Sharapova in the fourth round and her ruthless demolition of Sara Errani in the quarterfinal (giving up only one game!) The Great Dane has a 5-1 head-to-head advantage over Peng, but more than that she wants to get into a major final, especially against her good friend Serena Williams, whom she knows she can win at least one set against, after all she has done it twice in the last month. PREDICTION: Wozniacki.
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