(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) vs. Sabine Lisicki (GER)

Safina needed everything she had to beat the former Wimbledon champ, Amelie Mauresmo, in the fourth round. She is now into the quarterfinals of Wimbledon for the first time in her career, and she has advanced to at least the quarters of the last four Grand Slams.

Everyone at the Academy couldn’t be happier for Sabine. She is a great girl with a fantastic attitude and has really worked hard to get to where she is today. She has been training at the Academy for the last four or five years and during that time she has become a top professional. This is her first appearance in the quarterfinals of any Grand Slam, but trust me, she has the talent to keep moving on!

Match-Up:

Lisicki is 1-0 against Safina, with that win coming in the opening round of the 2008 Australian Open. At that time, Safina was No. 16 in the world and Lisick was No. 194. Plenty has changed since then, and both have really improved their games. You are going to see a lot of hard-hitting action in this match. Both girls have big-time forehands and backhands and really play aggressively. I think for Lisicki to win she is going to have to hit get her monster first serve in and then put the ball away quickly. The longer the rallies and the match goes, the more it favors Safina. The Russian has been on this stage before and that experience should help her. This match could go either way depending on who is getting their first serve in and who is able to control the points. I like Lisicki early and then Safina if it goes long.

Nick’s Pick — Lisicki in 2, Safina in 3 sets

(3) Venus Williams (USA) vs. (11) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)

Venus advanced to the quarterfinals for the third straight year and for the 10th time in her illustrious career when Ana Ivanovic retired in the second set. There is no question that Venus is the favorite to win this tournament, but the one thing that must hold up is her knee which seems to be giving her a little trouble.

Radwanska ended the dream run of American Melanie Oudin 6-4, 7-5 to reach the quarters for the second consecutive year. Radwanska has never been to the semifinals of any Grand Slam and beating Venus here would clearly be one of the biggest victories of her career.

Match-Up:

Venus is 3-1 against Radwanska and has beaten her twice already this year (once on clay and once on the hard court). What makes Radwanska so good is her ability to cover the court and make very few unforced errors. She keeps the ball in play and is like a brick wall on the baseline. Her biggest vulnerability is her second serve. It clocks in around 65 mph and can and will be attacked by Venus. Look for Ms. Williams to pounce on the weak serve and keep Radwanska on the defensive throughout the match. Venus is always comfy on the grass, she is confident she can win, and right now she isn’t making many forehand errors. That is a recipe for great success!

Nick’s Pick — Venus Williams in 2 sets

(4) Elena Dementieva (RUS) vs. Francesca Schiavone (ITA)

Dementieva has yet to drop a set in any of her matches this year and she has gone relatively quietly through the draw. She beat fellow Russian Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals and is looking to get back into the semis for the second straight year.

Schiavone is in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for only the third time in her career. In fact, at Wimbledon she had never even been past the third round previous to this year. She has played well though, taking out Aleksandra Wozniak, Michelle de Brito, Marion Bartoli and Virginie Razzano en route to this match.

Match-Up:

Dementieva and Schiavone are 4-4 against each other, but they haven’t grass and haven’t played since last year. Schiavone is tricky because she isn’t a big girl, but she certainly has the ability to take it to her opponent. She is crafty with the ball and knows how to keep you off-guard. Against Dementieva that might not be enough though, especially with the improved Dementieva serve. I look for the Russian to pound the groundies from both sides and use her excellent movement to keep Schiavone pinned behind the baseline.

Nick’s Pick — Dementieva in 3 sets

(8) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) vs. (2) Serena Williams (USA)

Azarenka toughed out a three-set battle over Nadia Petrova in the fourth round to reach the quarterfinals for the first time at Wimbledon. This is her second consecutive Grand Slam quarter, and she is looking for her first Grand Slam semi. Right now she is the odds-makers third choice after each of the Williams’ sisters. She could become the second option with a win here.

Serena has stated numerous times that she thinks she should have won more than two Wimbledon titles at this point in her career. She looks more determined than ever and is playing some of the best tennis I have ever seen from her. She hasn’t lost a set in this year’s tournament, but Azarenka might have something to say about that.

Match-Up:
Serena is 2-1 against Azarenka and they have split two matches thus far in 2009. I know one thing is for sure, Serena will not forget the loss she incurred to Azarenka in the finals at Miami earlier this year. I know I wouldn’t want to be on the other side of the net when Serena comes out on court! Serena is playing more intelligent tennis right now than she has been in the past. She isn’t trying to win the point right away, rather she is building points while constantly attacking. This philosophy will pay handsome dividends as she continues to progress through the tournament. Azarenka knows she can beat Serena and with that knowledge and experience she should be confident heading into this match. I can’t say I would be surprised if Azarenka won, but I have to give the edge to Serena.

Nick’s Pick — Serena Williams in 3 sets

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) vs. (17) Mauresmo (FRA)

Safina has reached the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time in her career and she has done so without dropping a set. Despite being the No. 1 player in the world, Safina is still looking for her first Grand Slam victory and she would love to get it on the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon.

Mauresmo, a former Wimbledon champion, beat 15th-seeded Flavia Pennetta 7-5, 6-3 to reach the fourth round. This is the first time she has been to the fourth round of a Grand Slam since the 2008 US Open, and she hasn’t been past this point in any Grand Slam since the 2006 US Open when she advanced to the semifinals!

Match-Up:

Mauresmo is 4-2 against Safina, but the Russian did win their last match at Moscow in 2008. There has been absolutely no talk about Mauresmo and that is what makes this match interesting, because we all know she can win it if her nerves hold up. She definitely plays with more versatility than Safina, but what will hurt her is Safina’s strength. Safina has to control her emotions and not let Mauresmo get into her head. If she does that and plays too her strengths I have to give the Russian the edge.

Nick’s Pick  —  Safina in 3 sets

(3) Venus Williams (USA) vs. (13) Ana Ivanovic (SRB)

What can I say? When Venus gets on grass she is a different player. Like Federer, she is looking for her sixth title here and she is also the two-time defending champion. Beating Venus on grass is similar to taking down Nadal on clay —  it is extremely difficult to do!

Since winning the 2008 French Open, Ivanovic hasn’t looked like the same player. She hasn’t been past the fourth round in any Grand Slam since last year’s Roland Garros and has seen her ranking fall from No. 1 to No. 12. Winning this match would be the biggest thing for her since that title.

Match-Up:

Venus is 5-1 against Ivanovic and beat her in the semis of Wimbledon in straight sets back in 2007. I definitely believe that Ivanovic is playing a bit better than she has been for much of the last year. She seems more confident and more determined. However, Venus will keep her on the defensive throughout the match and will move her around the court. Ivanovic will have to gamble and take chances, because that is the only way to beat Venus on grass. The one thing Venus has to watch out for is errors from the forehand side. If she keeps those down and serves well, she will win.

Nick’s Pick  — Venus Williams in 3 sets

(4) Elena Dementieva (RUS) vs. Elena Vesnina (RUS)

Dementieva is a player that is flying under the radar a bit, and she is more than capable of winning this tournament. She hasn’t lost a set in her three matches and has been to the semifinals here before. In her last four Grand Slams she has been to the semis three times.

Vesnina picked up a good win over French Open semifinalist Dominika Cibulkova in the third round and is into the fourth round of a Grand Slam for only the second time in her career. She has never been to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam in singles, but in doubles she did reach the finals of the 2009 French Open.

Match-Up:

Dementieva is 2-0 against her fellow Russian and she beat her earlier this year at Auckland in straight sets. In the battle of Russian Elena’s, it is Dementieva who has had much more experience on the bigger stage. She is very steady, has fantastic groundstrokes, moves exceptionally well, and the serve is improved. When you add up all that with her experience, she definitely has the edge in this match.

Nick’s Pick  — Dementieva in 2 sets

(8) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) vs. (10) Nadia Petrova (RUS)

Petrova knocked out Gisela Dulko in the third round and is looking to reach the quarterfinals at Wimbledon for the third time in her career. She has dealt with injuries for some of her career, which has held her back, but when she is healthy and playing well she is very tough to beat.

Azarenka has had her best year on the tour to date and comes in ranked No. 8 in the world. She’s already won three titles, including a big-time win over Serena Williams in the finals at Miami. She is still looking for her first Grand Slam title, but if she continues to play like she has been she is definitely a contender in every tournament she enters.

Match-Up:

Petrova is 2-1 against Azarenka and did beat her last year at Wimbledon in two tiebreak sets. This is going to be a battle. Both of these women are strong, fight like dogs, and refuse to lose. Both are big girls with powerful groundies and good serves. This match could really go either way; it really depends on the unforced errors of Azarenka. She has a tendency now and then to lose her focus and make too many errors. If she does this, then Petrova will pounce. On the other hand, I feel Azarenka also has the ability to keep Petrova backed up and on the defensive if she is playing well. I give a slight edge to Azarenka, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Petrova came out as the victor.

Nick’s Pick  —  Azarenka in 3 sets

(6) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Melanie Oudin (USA)

Jankovic hasn’t dropped a set in her two matches yet and I’m hoping that is a good sign for things to come in the next week. She is working with a former student of mine, Chip Hooper, and he has a very mellow personality which is a good thing for Jelena. Don’t count her out, especially if she finds the groove that she has been missing throughout 2009.

Oudin is a young American with plenty of potential. She is a former top junior who is just now breaking into the pro ranks. This is her third Grand Slam appearance and it is the first time she has made it out of the opening round. The future is bright for Oudin and be sure to keep an eye on her.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between Oudin and Jankovic. Oudin is not a big girl —  she’s only 5-foot-6 — but she covers the court extremely well and gets a lot of power out of her small frame. As you know, Jankovic is one of the best movers on the WTA Tour, she has a fantastic two-handed backhand, and she knows how to win. Jankovic doesn’t want this match to go three sets, because any confidence that she gives to Oudin will not help. Look for Jankovic to take control of the points early and never let up. This is a big stage for Oudin and that might also catch up to her.

Nick’s Pick —  Jankovic in 2 sets

(3) Venus Williams (USA) vs. Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP)

The five-time Wimbledon champion, Williams, has looked nothing short of spectacular in her first two matches. She loves playing on the grass and is without a doubt one of the favorites to win this tournament.

This is Suarez Navarro’s first appearance in the third round of Wimbledon and she has a knack for winning big matches. She has been to two Grand Slam quarterfinals in her career, but this would be a big, big win for her!

Match-Up:

Suarez Navarro is 1-0 against Venus and that win came back at the beginning of the year in the Australian Open. Suarez Navarro has an excellent one-handed backhand and also tremendous footwork. The problem I see is that with the relentless groundstrokes of Venus her one-handed backhand might break down under the pressure. Also, with Venus’ ability to gracefully cover the court and with her wingspan she is incredibly difficult to beat on grass.

Nick’s Pick —  Venus Williams in 2 sets

(6) Andy Roddick (USA) vs. (26) Jurgen Melzer (AUT)

Roddick has flown under the radar a bit in the first two rounds, but the American is playing excellent tennis. The two-time finalist is definitely a contender for the title and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him playing on the last weekend.

Melzer has never been past the third round of any of the four Grand Slams. He has yet to drop a set in the first two rounds, but there was some talk in the British papers about a betting scandal surrounding his first round win over Wayne Odesnik. He cannot let that bother him otherwise he will be in trouble.

Match-Up:

Roddick is 8-0 against Melzer, but the two have never met on grass. In those eight matches, Roddick has lost a combined two sets to Melzer and those both came in a five-set battle they had in last year’s Davis Cup. Melzer has excellent groundstrokes and a very solid serve. He covers the court well and is a dangerous opponent. Roddick seems to be playing some of the best tennis of his life. Working with Larry Stefanki has been a big plus for him as Roddick seems very cool, calm and collected. The big thing with Roddick is that he is hitting the backhand much better and isn’t running around hitting low-percentage forehand shots. This match will be determined by the serve and if Roddick continues to serve well, the edge goes to him.

Nick’s Pick  — Roddick in 4 sets

(3) Andy Murray (GBR) vs. (30) Viktor Troicki (SRB)

Murray played close to a perfect match in his second round win over Ernests Gulbis. He had only five unforced errors, didn’t get broken once, got 73 percent of his first serves in, and won over 40 percent of the points on Gulbis’ serve. All in all, the British fans couldn’t have asked for a better match from their great hope!

Troicki has worked his way diligently up the rankings and comes in at a career high of No. 31 in the world. He is still looking for his first appearance in the second week of a Grand Slam and beating Murray would sure put a damper on things if you are British!!

Match-Up:

Murray is 2-0 against Troicki, with one of those wins coming earlier this year in Miami. Every aspect of Troicki’s game is big. He has a sonic serve, killer forehand, and a good backhand. Having said that, one of Murray’s best assets is his ability to neutralize the power of his opponents. You saw him do this against Gulbis and you will see him do it against Troicki. I definitely think Troicki is talented enough to win a set and push Murray, but in the end Murray just has too much game for the Serb. Murray can play with so much variety that it makes it difficult for his opponents to get comfortable and this works to his advantage very well.

Nick’s Pick  —  Murray in 4 sets

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) vs. Rossana De Los Rios (PAR)

Safina moved through the first round, but it wasn’t as easy as I am sure she would have liked. Nonetheless, winning your first round match is sometimes one of the most difficult things to do. Now that she has that out of the way, she can focus on the task at hand which is winning her maiden Grand Slam title.

De Los Rios defeated NBTA student Nicole Vaidisova in three sets in the first round. She has never been past the second round of Wimbledon, but did reach the fourth round of the French Open previously. She comes in ranked No. 100 in the world, but was as high as No. 51.

Match-Up:

Safina is 1-0 against De Los Rios, but that match came all the way back in 2003 when Safina was only 17 years old. Six years later, Safina is the No. 1 player in the world and is still looking for her first Grand Slam title. There may be no one on the WTA tour who is in better shape than Safina physically. She needs to believe in her head that she is the No. 1 player in the world and that will really help her. She is as strong as anybody, hits her groundstrokes as well as anybody and moves as well as anybody. Once she believes in herself 100 percent, watch out! De Los Rios moves great around the court and has solid groundstrokes from both sides, but nothing spectacular. I look for Safina to advance and hopefully she will also demonstrate what it takes to win a Grand Slam title!

Nick’s Pick — Safina in 2 sets

Sabine Lisicki (GER) vs. Patricia Mayr (AUT)

Sabine Lisicki picked up a big win in the first round over 32nd-seeded Anna Chakvetadze. Lisicki won 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 and is into the second round of Wimbledon for the first time in her young career. The 19-year old Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy student is one of the bright up-and-coming stars on the tour and you should definitely get out and watch her!

Mayr took down the top British woman, Anne Keothavong, in straight sets in the first round. She is making her inaugural appearance at Wimbledon and comes in ranked No. 80 in the world. A win here would put her in the second round of a Grand Slam for only the second time in her career.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between Mayr and Lisicki. Mayr has solid groundstrokes from both sides and hits the backhand quite flat. She has a very good forehand, but overall she lacks consistency. Lisicki plays a very big game. She has a huge serve and killer forehand. Sometimes, when she gets excited, she tends to over-hit her shots on both sides and commits to many errors. If her first serve is on, she will win without a doubt. If she struggles serving and starts feeling the pressure with her groundies she could be in trouble. I love working with Sabine at the Academy because she has a great attitude every day and her father/coach is such a great guy who is very open to advice and working with us. I look for Sabine to advance, but this could go three.

Nick’s Pick — Lisicki in 3 sets

(10) Nadia Petrova (RUS) vs. Shahar Peer (ISR)

Petrova needed just 46 minutes to dispense of Anastasia Yakimova in the first round. Petrova won 6-1, 6-1 and broke Yakimova six times in seven chances. She is a two-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist and I think she can get back there again this year.

Peer defeated Maria Elena Camerin 6-2, 7-6(3), and is looking to get back to the fourth round of Wimbledon for the second consecutive year. Her ranking has fallen down to No. 55 in the world, 40 spots lower than her career high of No. 15 (which came back in 2007).

Match-Up:

Petrova in 3-0 against Peer and actually beat her on grass last year at Eastbourne. Both of these girls are extremely competitive and fight for every point. Petrova has a big game, she’s a veteran, and she understands what it takes to win. Peer was once thought of as a one of the best up-and-comers in the world, but she has definitely fallen short of those expectations. She needs a big tournament to regain her confidence, and there is no better time than now. Both girls are disciplined, but I feel Petrova is a bit more consistent and has too much firepower for Peer. Petrova’s ability to hit penetrating balls constantly will be the difference in this match.

Nick’s Pick  — Petrova in 3 sets

(14) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) vs. Urszula Radwanska (POL)

Cibulkova comes in ranked a career high of No. 13 in the world after a great run to the semifinals of the French Open. This is only her second appearance at Wimbledon, having never gotten past the first round previously. She defeated Julie Coin in the first round in a tough three setter and she is going to need more than 15 winners to beat Radwanska.

Many people know Urszula’s older sister, Agnieszka, but the younger Radwanska is making a name for herself as well. At the age of 18, she is one of the younger players ranked in the top 100 and checks in at a career high of No. 71 in the world. A win here would put her in the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between these two youngsters and promises to be an exciting one. Standing at only 5-foot-3, Cibulkova is a little spit-fire out on the course. She moves exceptionally well and gets a lot of power from such a small frame. She is brimming with confidence after the French Open and seems to be really coming into her own. Radwanska plays aggressive tennis and is not afraid to put pressure on her opponent. She is still young and has to learn what it takes to win consistently on the tour. I think she could win this match, but I give the edge to Cibulkova because of her experience and her confidence.

Nick’s Pick  — Cibulkova in 3 sets

(2) Roger Federer (SUI) vs. (23) Robin Soderling (SWE)

Robin Soderling continued his amazing run with an unbelievable win over Fernando Gonzalez in the semifinals. Soderling was up two sets to none before Gonzalez came storming back to take the next two sets. In the fifth set, Gonzalez was up 4-1 and it looked like he was going to be the one to advance. It was not to be though as Soderling came back to win 6-4 in the fifth. Soderling is the seventh Swede to reach the finals of Roland Garros, and this is not only his first Grand Slam final it is his first clay-court final! Only five men in the Open Era have won their first clay-court tournament at Roland Garros, with the last being Gustavo Kuerten in 1997.

Like Soderling, Federer also have to fight for his life in the semifinals. He was down two sets to one, but was able to win the fourth set 6-1 and then take the fifth set 6-4. Del Potro gave Federer just about everything he could handle, but in the end Federer just had too much for him. This is Federer’s fourth consecutive Roland Garros final and the first time he hasn’t played Nadal. If he wins this title, he will complete the career Grand Slam and tie Pete Sampras with 14 Grand Slam titles!

Match-Up:

Federer is 9-0 against Soderling and beat him in Madrid just a couple of weeks ago on clay 6-1, 7-5. Soderling turned pro in 2001 and has won three career titles all on carpet. On the other side, Federer turned pro in 1998 and has won 58 career titles, including an amazing 13 Grand Slams.

Now, take those stats and throw them out the window because they mean nothing in this match. Soderling is playing incredible tennis and he is a different player than he was even two weeks ago. You’ve also got to understand the amount of pressure that is on Federer’s shoulders for this match. He is carrying the weight of the sports world on them and who knows how that will affect him. Put yourself in his shoes, and think about how you would react to everyone criticizing every mistake you make on the court. It’s not easy out there!!

Soderling has to come out and throw some quick punches against Federer to help him take control of this match. He has done that throughout the tournament and needs to continue doing so here. He has a huge forehand, excellent serve and very good two-handed backhand. It is difficult to doubt his mental focus after beating Nadal, Davydenko and Gonzalez in succession as well.

At the same time, Federer may come out firing as well and show Soderling that he is here for one thing: to win! Don’t be surprised to see Federer coming out with guns blazing and showing his best stuff from the start. Federer wants this title more than anything in the world and I think he is going to get it!

Nick’s Pick — Federer in 4 sets

(12) Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs. (23) Robin Soderling (SWE)

Gonzalez was able to keep Murray pinned way back behind the baseline throughout the entire quarterfinal match. This allowed Gonzalez to hit drop shots, angled shots, and control the court with his forehand preventing Murray from making a run. This is Gonzalez’s first time reaching the semis of any Grand Slam since he advanced to the finals of the 2007 Australian Open.

Soderling followed up his great win over Nadal with another very good win over Nikolay Davydenko. He crushed the Russian 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 in just 101 minutes to reach his first career Grand Slam semifinal. This is already the best tournament of Soderling’s career and another win would just be the cherry on top!

Match-Up:

Gonzalez is 4-3 against Soderling and has beaten him twice on clay. Both men have huge forehands and big serves. Both can control the court with ease and hit winners with the best of them. Gonzalez had his way against Murray because he was able to control the court and Murray was standing so far behind the baseline that every shot was available for the Chilean. This will be a much different match because Soderling plays much more offensive and has a monster forehand of his own. This match could really go either way, but I am going to ride the hot-hand of Soderling and give him the edge.

Nick’s Pick  —  Soderling in 4 or 5 sets

(2) Roger Federer (SUI) vs. (5) Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)

Federer looked as determined as I have seen him this year in this straight-set victory over Gael Monfils in the quarterfinals. He had 13 more winners than errors and broke Monfils three times in five chances. He knows that this title is more in reach than it has ever been before and it is going to take a monumental effort to stop him. 

Del Potro is in the semifinals of a Grand Slam for the first time in his young career. The 6-foot-6 Argentine beat Spaniard Tommy Robredo in three sets to advance. At the age of 20, Del Potro is the youngest player left on the men’s side and is clearly on his way to great things throughout his career. 

Match-Up:

Federer is 5-0 against Del Potro, and that includes a win over him just a couple of weeks ago on clay at Madrid. In those five matches, Federer hasn’t lost a set to Del Potro and has only dropped a total of 29 games. Federer has to be extremely confident going into this match. He just knocked off Monfils without dropping a set, Nadal is out, and he has a winning record against Del Potro. Having said that, Del Potro can definitely challenge Federer in this match with his booming serve, fantastic groundstrokes, and solid movement. For a big guy, Del Potro covers the court very well and will come in to put the ball away. In this match, he is going to have to end the rallies quickly. Basically hit a big serve and then put the point away. He cannot get into long cross-court rallies with Federer because he will lose. Federer can just do so much with the ball and with his confidence I give him the edge.

Nick’s Pick  —  Federer in 4 sets

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) vs. (20) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK)

As thought, Safina got her first big test of the tournament when she faced Victoria Azarenka in the quarters. She dropped the opening set, but fought back to advance in three. The win puts her into the semis for the second-straight year and now she is two wins away from claiming her first career Grand Slam title.

Cibukova looked dominant against Maria Sharapova in the quarters, taking out the former world No. 1 6-0, 6-2. This is her first appearance in the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament as she had previously never been out of the fourth round of any of the big four events.

Match-Up:

Safina is 2-0 against Cibulkova but they have never faced on clay. Cibulkova looked great against Sharapova, but to be fair to Sharapova she played four consecutive three-set matches in only her second tournament in 10 months. Against Safina, it will be a different story. Cibulkova will try to use her movement and powerful groundstrokes to keep Safina off-balance. This is much easier said than done though because Safina loves to control play and she has the tool set to do so. Safina is bigger, stronger and more aggressive than Cibulkova and when you combine that with her experience in playing in these matches the edge goes to the Russian.

Nick’s Pick — Safina in 3 sets

(7) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) vs. (30) Samantha Stosur (AUS)

Kuznetsova is back in the semifinals of the French Open for the second consecutive year. Last year she lost to Dinara Safina, whom she could face in the finals if they both win. It’s been a long time since we have seen Kuznetsova play the way she is capable of consistently, and if she could regain the form that took her to the finals of the 2006 French Open and the 2007 US Open, and helped her win the 2004 US Open that would be great for tennis.

We have said from the beginning that this tournament is wide open, so it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise to see Sam Stosur in the semifinals. The 25-year old Australian is playing in her first career Grand Slam semifinals in the singles. She has plenty of experience in the doubles as she is a two-time Grand Slam champion in that arena. She knocked off Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-3 in the quarters.

Match-Up:

Kuznetsova is 1-0 against Stosur, but that match took place five years ago on a hard court. Kuznetsova got a much-needed win for her psyche over Serena Williams in the quarters. There is no doubt she has the talent to capture the title, she just needs to believe in herself. Beating Serena should definitely give her the confidence she needs to take down anyone she may face moving forward. On the other side, Stosur is playing excellent tennis. She’s won her last two matches without dropping a set and only losing a combined seven games. She is a strong player who moves well and is very comfortable at the net. The key in this match is going to be the relentless pounding groundstrokes of Kuznetsova. She stands right around that baseline and doesn’t make many errors. This will allow her to control the court and keep Stosur pushed back. This will be an excellent match, and I give the edge to the Russian.

Nick’s Pick — Kuznetsova in 3 sets

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) vs. (9) Victoria Azarenka (BLR)

Nobody has even come close to challenging Safina as of yet. In four matches she has lost a total of five games! She certainly looks unstoppable as of right now, but then again so did Nadal! If she captures this title, it would be the first Grand Slam victory of her career and would cement her status as the No. 1 player in the world.

Azarenka has looked very good as well. She has only dropped one set (to Carla Suarez Navarro) and she just took out the defending champion, Ana Ivanovic, with relative ease. Next to Safina, there is no one who has played better tennis in 2009 than Azarenka.

Match-Up:

Safina is 3-1 against Azarenka, but in there one meeting so far in 2009 Azarenka won in three sets. Both girls have big groundstrokes, excellent serves, and cover the court well. Both are playing fantastic tennis, and it is really too bad that they have to meet in the quarters. I think you will see Safina get her first real challenge in this match, but I just cannot pick against her. She is so strong and seems mentally focused, and that is a scary thing for the rest of the field. This should be close, but I give the edge to Safina.

Nick’s Pick — Safina in 3 sets

(20) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) vs. Maria Sharapova (RUS)

Cibulkova is in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career. Her best result previously was at the 2009 Aussie Open when she reached the fourth round. The 20-year old Slovakian came into the tournament ranked No. 19 in the world, which is down three spots from her career high of No. 16.

It is fantastic to see Sharapova back and winning again. The tour missed really missed her when she was injured, and hopefully she can keep that shoulder healthy throughout the rest of her career. In the fourth round she knocked out Na Li in three sets and is trying to get to the semis for the second time in her career.

Match-Up:

Sharapova is 2-0 against Cibulkova with both of those wins coming on clay in 2008. At 5-foot-3, Cibulkova’s biggest weapon is her speed and agility. Her movement side-to-side and front-to-back is a great asset. She also gets a lot of power out of her small frame and when you combine that with her speed, it is a lethal combination. Sharapova needs to have a very good serving day and step inside the court to finish points early. She doesn’t want to get into long rallies with Cibulkova because of her movement. I see this one going three sets with Sharapova winning a close one. She is just such a tough competitor that I think when it gets tight she will be the one to come out alive!

Nick’s Pick — Sharapova in 3 sets

(2) Serena Williams (USA) vs. (7) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)

Serena stepped up her game and blasted Aleksandra Wozniak off the court in the fourth round in only 53 minutes! She had only eight unforced errors and broke Wozniak five times. When Serena is playing like this, she is just about impossible to beat. She hasn’t been to the semis here since 2003, which was the year after she won the tournament and completed the Serena Slam.

Kuznetsova dropped a set for the first time at this year’s tournament in her fourth round victory over Aggie Radwanska. The win puts her into the quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive year and she is trying to get back to the finals for the first time since 2006.

Match-Up:

Serena is 5-1 against Kuznetsova with one of those wins coming on clay and one coming earlier this year at the Australian Open. Both Serena and Kuznetsova are big girls who are extremely solid from the baseline. Kuznetsova has excellent groundstrokes and a very good serve. What separates Serena from Kuznetsova is her movement and ability to track down the extra ball. Serena also has a better mental approach and can turn her game up when needed. I think this is going three, but in the end it’s going to be Serena.

Nick’s Pick — Serena Williams in 3 sets

(30) Samantha Stosur (AUS) vs. Sorana Cirstea (ROU)

For the first time in her career, Stosur is in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam as a singles player. She has won many doubles titles in the Grand Slam arena and was once the No. 1 ranked doubles player in the world. She beat Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano 6-1, 6-2 in the fourth round to advance.

Cirstea got what has to be the biggest win of her career, as she took down former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round. She won 9-7 in the third set to advance to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career. In fact, prior to this tournament her best result at any Grand Slam was the second round!!

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between the 19-year old Cirstea and the 25-year old Stosur. Neither girl has much experience in the singles arena on this stage, but Stosur has certainly been here before playing doubles. That knowledge will definitely be a factor throughout this match. Cirstea has a big-time forehand and showed nerves of steel against Jankovic, but can she do it again? It’s always interesting to see how players follow up great wins. Do they continue to play at that level or do they fold under the pressure? Stosur has probably a more consistent game than Cirstea and with her previous experiences I give her a slight edge in this match.

Nick’s Pick — Stosur in 3 sets