US Open 2013 Semifinals: Favorites Will Have No Trouble Advancing

The top seeds in the the 2013 U.S. Open semifinals will have no trouble advancing to the finals to set up a pair of showdowns between the top players in the world.

Upsets have made the semifinals less intriguing, although the underdogs have looked good while shocking their recent opponents. No. 9 Stanislas Wawrinka looked dominant in sweeping three sets against No. 3 Andy Murray, with match stats courtesy of the official website of the U.S. Open.

Only two rounds remain in the tournament, and the stars are looking to add to their legacies. 

Both draws have the top two seeds still in play. They are good enough and fresh enough to avoid being upset, so they will set up great matches for the finals.

Men's Singles

No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 9 Stanislas Wawrinka

No. 2 Rafael Nadal vs. No. 8 Richard Gasquet

These semifinals are just mismatches on both sides. 

Both Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet, who defeated No. 4 David Ferrer, knocked off a top seed in the quarterfinals. Gasquet took a two-set lead before having to win in the fifth set, so he's going to be tired heading into his match with Rafael Nadal. That's not a good sign.

Nadal has owned Gasquet in his career. The Spaniard is 10-0 against his next opponent, and Gasquet has won only four sets in those matches. Not only that, but Nadal is riding a huge hot streak on hard surfaces.

The second-ranked player is unbeatable on the surface this year, and he has been just as dominant all tournament. He has dropped only one set in the 2013 U.S. Open and has rebounded by winning six straight sets.

Nadal is playing too well for Gasquet to pull off the upset, so one side is determined.

Up top, Djokovic lucked out when Murray was knocked out. That would've been a rematch of the 2012 U.S. Open finals, which Murray won. Had Djokovic survived the challenge this time around, he would've been tired heading into a showdown with Nadal. 

Wawrinka is 2-12 against his semifinals opponent. He won two of the first three meetings between the two and has since lost 11 straight. Djokovic has lost only one set in this tournament, so he is fresh. Unfortunately the past trend will continue for Wawrinka.

*All Men's Singles information is courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com

Women's Singles

No. 1 Serena Williams vs. No. 5 Li Na

No. 2 Victoria Azarenka vs. Flavia Pennetta

Neither top player will lose in the semifinals, but Victoria Azarenka needs to at least be careful. 

Flavia Pennetta is on a big run as the underdog. She has knocked off No. 27 Svetlana Kuznetsova, No. 21 Simona Halep and No. 10 Roberta Vinci in straight sets. Pannetta hasn't lost a set in this tournament, and she made it to last year's semifinals.

Azarenka has been tested a few times this tournament and advanced. She is 1-1 against Pennetta, and the 24-year-old lost the only meeting between the two on hard surface, which was also their last meeting.

Although Pennetta has caught fire against tough opponents, she hasn't faced anyone on Azarenka's level. Her magical run will end in the semifinals.

Serena Williams has nothing to worry about. She is 8-1 in her career against Li Na, and the American has won seven straight meetings. Williams hasn't dropped a set in this tournament, and opponents have won only one point in the last three sets.

Li has been tested in a couple of rounds in New York, but her past failures against the world's top player will be too much to overcome. Williams is the defending U.S. Open champion, and she will continue her reign at the event. 

Look for the women's draw to join the men's as a showdown of the top two players in the finals.

*All Women's Singles information is courtesy of WTATennis.com