Abkhazia Institute for Social and Economic Research

1-JUSTINE HENIN V. 12-VENUS WILLIAMS
What's better when picking matches? To go with your gut, or to go with your head? Maybe a combination of both. If you instinctually feel that a player is going to win and then reason how she can win even if her opponent is playing her best, that's the best way to go. And that's why I'm going with Venus here, even though on a great day, Henin is just as good as Williams on hard courts. Justine is promising that she won't have a letdown in this match, like she did at Wimbledon after she survived Serena and then was shocked by Marion Bartoli.

Four of women’s tennis’ top talents take to the great stage of Arthur Ashe Stadium today, as the women’s semifinals of the 2007 US Open unfold. At the start of this event, 128 names filled the lines of the women’s draw—today, the deal is two pair. Justine Henin takes on Venus Williams; Svetlana Kuznetsova faces compatriot Anna Chakvetadze. Four major talents, two wins away from one major title.

Venus Williams has won six Grand Slams titles. So has her semifinal foe, Justine Henin. But, amazingly, they haven't met since the 2003 Australian Open semifinals, when Venus took her down in straight sets before falling in the final to her sister, Serena.

In an emotionally draining quarterfinal between two 20-year-old fighters who had never reached a Slam semifinal, it was perhaps fitting that their quarterfinal battle was decided with a challenge on match point.