US Open Tennis 2015 Schedule: TV Coverage, Live Stream for Men's Semifinals
All that stands between men's tennis and a long, four-month break from Grand Slam competition are two semifinals and one championship bout at the 2015 U.S. Open, but it's guaranteed to go out with a bang.
Only two of the so-called Big Four are in the semifinals, with Roger Federer and top-seeded Novak Djokovic still reigning supreme on their respective sides of the draw. However, their toughest tests to date at Flushing Meadows are upcoming, with each presented with an immensely difficult matchup.
The men will have to wait until the women's semifinals—postponed until Friday at 11 a.m. ET—are in the books before taking to the courts, but expect fireworks under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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Let's take a closer look at how to catch the action.
Friday, Sept. 11 Viewing Info
Event: Men's semifinals
Time (ET): 5 p.m. - 12 a.m.
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Schedule of Play
| 5 p.m. | No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 9 Marin Cilic | Arthur Ashe |
| 7:30 p.m. | No. 2 Roger Federer vs. No. 5 Stan Wawrinka | Arthur Ashe |
No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 9 Marin Cilic
The tennis world is abuzz about what Serena Williams is about to do, but Novak Djokovic was oh so close to being right there alongside her chasing a calendar-year Grand Slam.
Of course, Djokovic's quest for that ended way back at the French Open, when he fell to Stan Wawrinka in the final. He has a chance to continue his quest for three-of-four, but he'll have to go through the defending U.S. Open champion to get one step closer.
Just like it is with most of the players on the ATP tour and elsewhere, Marin Cilic hasn't found much success against Djokovic. In fact, he has a lowly career record of 0-13 against the Serb.
Cilic is hoping his improvements that resulted in a major championship this time last year show against Djokovic in meeting No. 14, as noted by ESPN's Johnette Howard.
"It's definitely the toughest match for me, toughest matchup," Cilic said. "I had close matches last few years, but I haven't found the right formula to be able to win a match. We will see."
Cilic's immensely powerful serve could do him well against Djokovic, who struggled with the blistering service speed of Feliciano Lopez in his last outing. If the Croatian is able to put together a similar game plan and remain energetic late in the match, he'll have a chance.
No. 2 Roger Federer vs. No. 5 Stan Wawrinka
It will be a big evening Friday for the Switzerland tennis faithful, as their two biggest stars battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium for one coveted spot in Sunday's final.
Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka will go at it again Friday for the 20th time. Federer is a strong 16-3 in those matchups, although there is reason to believe Wawrinka will notch win No. 4 over his rival countryman.
Wawrinka got the best of Federer the last time they faced off. That came earlier this year at the French Open quarterfinals, where Wawrinka dispatched Federer in straight sets on the way to his second major title.
Of course, all three of Wawrinka's victories over Federer have come on clay courts—which are considerably slower and don't allow Federer to establish his baseline movement quite as much. That won't be much of an option on the hard courts Friday night.
Wawrinka will have to mix it up to find a way to do something he's never done before: top Federer on a court other than clay.
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