US Open Tennis 2012 TV Schedule: 5 Best Matches on Day 8's Slate

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The 2012 U.S. Open has produced several riveting storylines, and they will continue to unfold on Day 8 with no shortage of intriguing matchups. 

Both the men's and women's singles competitions will be in the fourth round, and each player will be competing for a coveted spot in the quarterfinals. 

This is the last major of 2012, and each athlete, who has made it this far, will want to close out the year with a title. 

Here are the five matches not to miss on Day 8. 

(1) Roger Federer vs. (23) Mardy Fish

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The run Roger Federer is current on can only be described as remarkable, and by all appearances, Mardy Fish will be his next victim.

Federer regained the No. 1 ranking in the world by winning Wimbledon earlier this summer. At 30 years old, he continued his fantastic form by earning a silver medal at the London Olympics before winning the Western and Southern Open.

Now, he has dominated his first three matches and won each time without dropping a set. Fish will likely be his toughest opponent to date at Flushing Meadows, but that does not mean the American will give Federer much trouble.

Federer's form has been spectacular to watch, and his matches should not be missed.  

(6) Angelique Kerber vs. (10) Sara Errani

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In the women's singles competition, the least predictable match is Angelique Kerber against Sara Errani. 

Kerber reached the semifinals of last year's tournament before losing to eventual champion Samantha Stosur. Errani lost her first match at Flushing Meadows in 2011, but she has had an impressive 2012 highlighted by a finals appearance at the French Open. 

In the women's field, that is often wide open, these two lesser-known members of the WTA's top-10 ranked players are capable of making a run to win this tournament.

The last seven Grand Slams have produced seven different winners, with four of those players earning their first victory at a major. This could be either Kerber or Errani's time to etch their name into tennis history.  

(11) Nicolas Almagro vs. (6) Tomas Berdych

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This will likely be the most competitive match of the day in the men's competition.

Both players have high seeds and would be worthy semifinal opponents for Roger Federer—assuming he defeats Mardy Fish. Berdych actually beat Federer in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon two years ago before taking out Novak Djokovic as well on his way to the final.

Almagro has never advanced past the quarterfinals at any major, and clay courts are his specialty. All three of his quarterfinal appearances were at the French Open.

However, these two met on the hard courts at the Australian Open earlier this year, and Berdych won a thrilling four-set match in which the final three stanzas were all pushed to a tiebreaker. When these two take the court, it will surely be another competitive affair. 

Andrea Hlavackova vs. (4) Serena Williams

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Like Roger Federer, Serena Williams is going through a resurgence late in her career and playing dominant tennis. Her matches must also not be missed.

Williams was knocked out of a major in her opening match for the first time in her career at the French Open, but then, she went on to win Wimbledon—her first Grand Slam victory in two years. She also won the doubles competition, playing with her sister Venus.

She followed that performance by winning the Bank of the West Classic, then earning gold medals in the singles and doubles competitions at the London Olympics. At Flushing Meadows, she has won her first three matches without dropping a set.

It is unlikely that Hlavackova will put up much of a challenge. Williams is playing fantastic tennis right now, and it is a spectacular sight to see.  

(3) Andy Murray vs. (15) Milos Raonic

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After Roger Federer, Andy Murray has had the most impressive summer of any player in the men's singles competition. 

Murray failed to take down Federer in the final at Wimbledon but got the best of him the next time the two met on the legendary grass courts. The Scot took the gold medal at the London Olympics.

Now, he is gunning for his first ever victory at a major, and he will likely have to go through Federer in the semifinals. But first, he must get past Milos Raonic, a talented young Canadian who beat Murray earlier this year in Barcelona.

Murray is in fantastic form now and will likely win the match, but Raonic is more than capable of making life difficult for his opponent.