US Open Report: Day 11

Only two men's singles matches needed to be played today to complete the roster of semifinalists for the men and women. And like the past few days, the four men playing today had to deal with the gutsy wind and the cold conditions.

First match was between Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland and Mikhail Youzhny of Russia. This was a real opportunity for both players with Wawrinka never making it this far into a major and Youzhny trying to reach only his second major semifinals. Wawrinka took a stanglehold early in the match capturing the first set easily, but the Russian fought back in the second to win a tiebreak putting them even once again. Wawrinka took the third set, but then the Russian wore down his Swiss opponent in the last two sets to win. Youzhny faces the winner of the first all-Spanish quarterfinal match at the US Open.

That match was between the top two Spaniards in the world, top seed Rafael Nadal and 8th seed Fernando Verdasco. Verdasco started out strong breaking Nadal in the latter's first service game to take the early lead. Nadal hung in there and slowly, but surely found his range finally able to break Verdasco in the eight game tying the score at 4-4. Nadal went on to break Verdasco's serve once more to win the first set 7-5. After that, there was little Verdasco could do as Nadal won the next two sets in a routine fashion.

Before those single matches were played, the first trophies of the US Open were handed out today as America's Liezel Huber and Bob Bryan won the Mixed Doubles title over Kveta Peschke of Czech Republic and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan 6-4 6-4. After the singles matches, 5-time Grand slam champion Martina Hingis teamed up with her old partner Anna Kournikova in an exhibition doubles match against Pat Cash and Mats Wilander. The guys won 7-5, but just so it's out there in the universe for anyone listening: "Hingis PLEASE COME BACK!!!"

Men's Second Semifinals Preview: Nadal should be heavily favored against Youzhny especially considering Nadal's form (hasn't lost a set yet) and Youzhny's condition (played a grueling five-set match). Last time they both played one another was two years ago at Wimbledon which Nadal won in straight sets. Historically, their H2H is 7-4 in Nadal's favor, but all of Youzhny's four wins came on hard courts which he has a 4-3 advantage over Nadal. They played once at the US Open back in 2006 which Youzhny won in four sets. Still, it's hard to see Nadal NOT win this to get to his first US Open final and a chance at a career Grand Slam.