US Open Tennis 2015: Women's Semifinals Bracket Predictions, Live Stream Info

Up until this moment, the U.S. Open was all about potential for Serena Williams.

Through her first four matches, the top-seeded woman in the final Grand Slam tournament of the year had to go through all the necessities of beating lesser opponents if she wanted to have an opportunity to play for the calendar-year Slam.

Then, in the quarterfinals, she had to fight the difficult psychological war of playing her sister Venus. It seemed like she was being tortured as she played that three-set match, having to battle a dangerous opponent whom she also happens to love.

"

She has my heart. ❤️ Memories make my heart filled with more joy than I can express. A lifetime with… https://t.co/CkaUdtjrhD

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) September 9, 2015"

Serena's game is all about strength and power, but there is also a certain rhythm and fluidity that is usually seen once she gets into a match. None of that was present in her three-set victory over Venus. It was sheer struggle.

Player	Opponent	Venue	Time (ET)	Livestream	Prediction
Simona Halep (2)	Flavia Pennetta (26)	Arthur Ashe	11 a.m.	ESPN3	Halep
Serena Williams (1)	Roberta Vinci	Arthur Ashe	after Halep/Pennetta	ESPN3	Williams

But now, the light is at the end of the tunnel. If she can win her Friday semifinal match against Roberta Vinci, she will play in the final of the U.S. Open. Williams and the unseeded Vinci will step onto the court second at Arthur Ashe Stadium following the other women's semifinal.

"

Serena Williams's combined record against the 3 other semifinalists is 17-1 http://t.co/BaRKAEhk39

— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) September 10, 2015"

Second-seeded Simona Halep and Flavia Pennetta will meet in the first semifinal, presumably for the right to play the overpowering Williams.

Serena has been a huge favorite throughout the tournament, and she is a prohibitive 3-50 choice over Vinci. 

After playing her sister in the quarterfinals and with the championship on the horizon, it would seem possible that a letdown against an unseeded opponent is possible. However, her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, insists that won't happen.

"There is no chance there will be a letdown," Mouratoglou told Brian Lewis of the New York Post. "The closer you get to the final match, the more focused she is, because she’s so used to that. She’s played so many Grand Slam semis and won so many. She’s a true professional. There won’t be any letdown."

The 32-year-old Vinci has played some of the best tennis of her career in this tournament. She may have gotten a break in the fourth round when Canadian Eugenie Bouchard was unable to play because of a concussion, but Vinci played a sharp match in the quarterfinals in defeating Kristina Mladenovic 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Vinci was having a rather ordinary year prior to coming to New York. She had a 21-20 match record at the start of the tournament, but her five victories to this point give her momentum.

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

In the other semifinal, Halep is a 3-10 favorite over Pennetta. Halep has had an excellent season, winning three tournaments this year while compiling a 45-11 record.

She was pushed hard in her quarterfinal win over Victoria Azarenka, but she appeared refreshed after a one-hour rain delay and came out with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory.

"I was running a lot. I was tired after the second set," Halep said after the match (h/t New York Post). "The break helped me. Thanks, God, for raining. Then I found the power to give everything. I really wanted to play for my first semifinal."

"

GIF: Simona Halep reacts after beating Victoria Azarenka... apparently not enough pinish pic.twitter.com/HGd8coBg85

— The Cauldron (@TheCauldron) September 9, 2015"

The 33-year-old Pennetta has played surprisingly well, and she upset 22nd-seeded Samantha Stosur 6-4, 6-4 in the fourth round before taking down fifth-seeded Petra Kvitova in three sets in the quarterfinals.

Pennetta is a savvy player, but the 23-year-old Halep is quicker and more athletic, and she has had much more success. Pennetta's match record was just 17-15 before the U.S. Open.

While the first semifinal should be an entertaining match, Friday's semifinals are all about Serena, and it would be a major shock if she did not earn a spot in the finals.

Odds courtesy of Odds Shark.