U.S. Open Update

With the U.S. Open over halfway home, the headlines have been the weather and a continuation of the year of the Spanish.  The heat played a huge part early on, followed by the strong winds after a partial visit by Hurricane Earl.  As I write this 7 of the 8 men's quarterfinalist are set, and and Venus Williams has already made it through to the semifinals on the women's side.  I would have been better off projecting all the top seeds to get to the quarters on the women's side, but several of my darkhorse picks were just barely beaten in tight battles in the round of 16.  My early upset pick of Sam Stosur nearly paid off, but after squeaking out a tight one against unseeded Vesnina in the first round she has since gone on to make the quarters. She is currently in action against Clijsters with a spot in the semis on the line.

I picked with my heart a little on the men's side, projecting Roddick to make the semifinals more because I was hoping he would rather than actual belief.  That will be the last time I use my heart on any projections on here, with the exception of the UNC Tarheels.  The Spaniards have been the story on the men's side, and I'm a little upset I didn't have more belief in a few of them.  The usual "clay court specialists" have really had a great run in New York on the hard courts, and that fact will be duly noted for later projections.  Here are the actual quarterfinals, and my updated picks for both the men and women:

Caroline Wozniaki

Women's Quarterfinals
Caroline Wozniaki (1) v. Dominika Cibulkova
Vera Zvonerava (7) v. Kaia Kanepi (31)
Venus Williams (3) v. Francesca Schiavone (6)
Kim Clijsters (2) v. Samantha Stosur (5)

If you've been reading you know I previously picked Maria Sharapova to beat Caroline Wozniacki, but I couldn't be happier to be wrong.  This girl is absolutely gorgeous, and an unbelievable fighter on the tennis court.  She is often up against an opponent with more power, but her amazing consistency and will to win keep her moving on time and time again.  On top of this, she seems to be a beautiful person on the inside as well, and always appears to be in a great mood.  I think I'm in love, and Caroline if somehow you read this, I'm ready to get married when you are.  That said, I expect Wozniacki to make the finals, and be matched up against either Clijsters (she's in the 3rd set right now against Stosur) or Venus Williams.  I really don't want to change my pick since I had Clijsters winning from the beginning, but Venus has looked strong and will be a very difficult challenge in the semis if Kim can get through her match.  Regardless of who wins that one my allegiances will be with Ms. Wozniacki in the finals, although I think either Williams or Clijsters would be a slight favorite against her.

Roger Federer

 Men's Quarterfinals

Federer (2) v. Soderling (5)
Djokovic (3) v. Monfils (17)
Youzhny (12) v. Wawrinka (25)
Nadal (1)-Lopez (23) v. Verdasco (8)

There aren't any real shockers on the men's side, unless of course Rafael Nadal is upset later tonight.  The only real surprise is the absence of Andy Murray, but he was taken out by a former top 10 player in Stanislas Wawrinka so it really isn't that huge of an upset.  Neither Rafa nor Roger Federer has lost a set, and they appear to be on a collision course to meet in the final.  I'm sure this is the match that everyone wants to see, and I would stick with Federer to win if that's the matchup.  Nadal has a great record against Federer, but since Nadal has yet to win the U.S. Open and Roger has dominated in New York, I'm sticking with the 5-time champ.