U.S. Open comes down to the final four

The fourth and final grand slam of the year kicked off at Flushing Meadows, Queens, N.Y. on Monday, Aug. 27.

Tournament favorite and Olympic gold medalist, No. 3 Andy Murray, as well as No. 1 Roger Federer, are both competing. No. 2 Rafael Nadal was absent due to a knee injury.

Among the women players are Wimbledon winner and Olympic gold medalist Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, who is looking to conquer her second U.S. Open title, and world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, who is in search of her first title here at N.Y. after winning a bronze medal in London.

At the beginning of the tournament, home court favorite Andy Roddick spoke to the press and announced his retirement at the end of the U.S. Open. Roddick maintained high energy throughout the tournament, reaching the fourth round to face Juan Martin del Potro, who defeated him 6-7, 7-6, 6-2, 6-4. The match was filled with emotion, and many of Roddick’s fellow tennis players wrote messages on Facebook and Twitter expressing how much Roddick will be missed, and how legendary his career has been. Del Potro has maintained a strong focus and is in search of a 2009 repeat at the U.S. Open.

Although Del Potro is looking to reach the final, it will not be against his 2009 competitor, Roger Federer, who was unexpectedly defeated in the fourth round by Thomas Berdych in a 7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 match. Advancing to his first-ever U.S. Open quarterfinal, world No. 6 Berdych, will face the winner of the Del Potro-Novak Djokovic match.

Gold medalist Andy Murray is looking to round off his year with his first grand slam title, after reaching the Wimbledon final. He will face Berdych today.

The top women players have played consistently well this tournament. World No. 4 Serena Williams has breezed through to the semifinals and will be facing Sara Errani, in her first semifinal at the U.S. Open. Errani is looking to matching her feat at the French Open this year and reach the final.

World No. 3 Maria Sharapova, who won the French Open and the silver medal at Olympics earlier this year, is in search of her second grand slam title of the year. She defeated Nadia Petrova 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in a tough match and No. 11 Marion Bartoli 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.

Laura Robson of Great Britain reached the fourth round for the first time, defeating former world No. 1 Kim Clijster 7-6, 7-6 and No. 9 Li Na 6-4, 6-7, 6-2. Clijster retired with a record of three U.S. Open titles.

The final for both the men’s and the women’s tournaments will undoubtedly be a mixture of surprises and high energy. No matter who reaches the final, Arthur Ashe Stadium will be filled with emotion.