US Open Tennis 2014: Schedule and Bracket Predictions for Day 12 in New York
If the quarterfinals of the 2014 U.S. Open are any indication of what is in store for the final weekend in New York, this is going to be one of the best tennis weekends in a long time. Friday is a light day on the schedule, but an important one with the women's semifinals being the main attraction.
Thursday was an incredible day for the sport, particularly the main event of the evening when Roger Federer pulled off the miracle of all miracles by coming back from two sets down against Gael Monfils to reach the U.S. Open semifinals for the first time since 2011.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Friday may not be able to reach those highs, but Serena Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Ekaterina Makarova and Peng Shuai are going to give every ounce of energy they have left trying to reach the finals of the year's last major tournament.
We've got a look at the schedule for Friday's matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium and predictions for all of the top matches.
| Round | Matchup | Start Time (ET) | Network |
| Mixed Doubles Finals | No. 1 Sania Mirza & Bruno Soares vs. Abigail Spears & Santiago Gonzalez | 12:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Women's Semifinals | Peng Shuai vs. No. 10 Caroline Wozniacki | Not Before 1:45 p.m. | CBS |
| Women's Semifinals | No. 1 Serena Williams vs. No. 17 Ekaterina Makarova | Not Before 3:45 p.m. | CBS |
Match Predictions
Mixed Doubles Final: No. 1 Sania Mirza & Bruno Soares vs. Abigail Spears & Santiago Gonzalez
Despite being the top-ranked mixed doubles team at the U.S. Open, Sania Mirza and Bruno Soares have been flirting with disaster throughout this event. They have needed all three sets in three of their four matches, while the other match went to a tiebreaker in the second set.
Mirza and Soares also needed a miracle comeback of their own, trailing 5-1 in the third set against Yung-Jan Chan and Ross Hutchins in the semifinals. They won the set 10-7 to reach their first final together as a duo. Mirza is looking to win her third mixed doubles title, previously capturing the Australian Open and French Open.
On the other side, Abigail Spears and Santiago Gonzalez have had the more difficult path to the finals. They defeated the No. 3 seed tandem of Cara Black and Leander Paes in the quarterfinals before disposing of Taylor Townsend and Donald Young in the semifinals.
Both teams have had moments of brilliance. The difference is Spears and Gonzalez have been on top of their game more consistently than Mirza and Soares, so you have to give them the edge in this matchup.
Prediction: Spears & Gonzalez defeat Mirza & Soares in three sets
Women's Semifinals: Peng Shuai vs. No. 10 Caroline Wozniacki
Moving into the women's semifinals, Peng has been the biggest surprise at the U.S. Open. She is the only unranked player in the semifinals, needing to defeat three ranked players to get a matchup with Wozniacki on Friday.
Peng has also turned into a feel-good story, admitting to reporters, via Lynn Zinser of the New York Times, that there were times she thought about ending her career:
"It’s an amazing time for me. It’s a long time to play, a long time in my career. So many times I thought to give up, to stop playing. But my coach and my parents tell me to keep fighting, to keep playing and never give up, that this day would come.
...
From the beginning year, I was doing lot of fitness and also like I keep practice, try to improve my game. Maybe this time I find a way or I catch like right time. And then just try to do what I can do on the court, and then, maybe before in the match I was like tight or nervous, afraid to play, but this time, for this moment, I feel myself was quite O.K.
"
Peng is going up against a player who has dealt with her share of adversity. Wozniacki has never won a major title, reaching the U.S. Open final in 2009. After a sluggish first round, the 10th-ranked player has dropped just one set in the last four matches.
Chris Evert has noticed the change in Wozniacki's game, tweeting this after she knocked off Maria Sharapova:
There's always a moment in every great athlete's career where all of their skills and raw potential finally fall into place. We've known about Wozniacki for years, but this is the first time she feels like one of the best players on the planet.
As great as Peng's run has been, Wozniacki is at another level right now.
Prediction: Wozniacki defeats Peng in straight sets
Women's Semifinals: No. 1 Serena Williams vs. No. 17 Ekaterina Makarova
Just when you think Williams has hit a wall in her career, the U.S. Open arrives to remind us that she's still the best player in the world when she wants to be. The top-ranked player has cruised through the first five rounds, winning in straight sets each time and never losing more than three games.
The scary part about this run of excellence is Williams hasn't always played at the top of her game. Michael Powell of The New York Times noted during her fourth-round win against Kaia Kanepi that she looked a little sloppy but powerful serves made up the difference.
"A few minutes into the match, the first of Williams’s 115-mile-an-hour hellcat serves bore down on her opponent, Kaia Kanepi. Then another, and another. Kanepi, who is long with powerful shoulders and is no slouch, let several serves whiz by without attempting a swing.
"
The next person who will try to conquer Williams' serve is 17th-ranked Makarova. She hasn't been getting talked about as much as Williams, for obvious reasons, but she hasn't dropped a set yet either and has beaten two top-20 players to reach the semifinals (Eugenie Bouchard, Victoria Azarenka).
One factor that could give Williams problems is Makarova being left-handed. It's a different look that you get from an opponent and the ball will move differently off the racket. Is that enough to overcome the difference in raw talent? No, but it is worth watching early to see how the No. 1 seed responds.
In the end, Williams has finally flipped that switch in a major tournament after disappointing finishes at Australia, France and England. You can't bet against her in this spot.
Prediction: Williams defeats Makarova in straight sets
If you want to talk sports, hit me up on Twitter.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
