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US Open live!

US Open live!

    HEAD-TO-HEAD
    Williams and Makarova have played each other four times previously, always on hard courts. While Williams has won three of those  including at the US Open in 2012, and at Dubai in February Makarova did win in the fourth round of the 2012 Australian Open. Not surprisingly, Makarova remembers that victory well. The key to beating Williams?


    Definitely to stay aggressive," Makarova said. "Because she's so aggressive, yes? And I need to be a little bit more aggressive than she is."

    9/5/2014 8:40:27 PM
    WILLIAMS 1-0* MAKAROVA
    The formidable Williams forehand comes into play on the first point, but her opponent whistles back a double-handed winner to make it 15-15. Some big first serves hand the American the first game.
    9/5/2014 8:43:31 PM
    WOZ CONSOLES PENG ...

    Wozniacki consoles Peng after the Chinese player suffered cramp in her body


    9/5/2014 8:45:21 PM
    WILLIAMS *1-1 MAKAROVA
    World No 1 Williams attempts to use brute force against Ekaterina Makarova, but the Russian 17th seed manages to hold to 30.
    9/5/2014 8:47:12 PM
    WILLIAMS 2-1* MAKAROVA
    Williams heads back to the chair after holding to 30. A 116 mph ace is the highlight of a game which literally flies by.
    9/5/2014 8:49:54 PM
    WILLIAMS *3-1 MAKAROVA
    [break] After a stream of upsets, world No 1 Serena Williams is the only top-eight seed to arrive at these US Open semi-finals and the only player in the last four who has won a grand slam title - and she's won 17. She hammers a stunning short crosscourt forehand winner to bring up a double break point. The five-time US Open champion challenges a call, but Makarova gets the decision. However, she does break on the next point after her opponent misses the baseline.
    9/5/2014 8:54:53 PM
    WILLIAMS 4-1* MAKAROVA
    Williams, who is into her 25th major semi-final, is determined to get the job done. She's looking in ominous form, trying to dictate the pace of play. A big bludgeoner of a forehand hits the line and the favourite for the title moves further away from the Russian, despite being taken to deuce.
    9/5/2014 8:59:36 PM
    WILLIAMS *5-1 MAKAROVA
    [break] Makarova and doubles partner Elena Vesnina also beat Serena and Venus Williams en rout to reaching Saturday's women's doubles final. She's having no such luck in the singles so far today. Despite difficult gusty conditions, Williams is taking authority from the baseline and striking the ball so cleanly. She brings up two break points on the Makarova serve and takes it at the second time of asking following an unforced error. She will serve for the opening set!
    9/5/2014 9:04:02 PM
    WILLIAMS 6-1 0-0* MAKAROVA
    [set] Williams, who won in Stanford and her 62nd career title Cincinnati, has returned to form just in time for the US Open. The world No 18 attempts to get some width into her game, but Williams is proving too good. She nails her first backhand winner to earn a double set point. She takes it after 26 minutes of action on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
    9/5/2014 9:07:17 PM
    FIRST SET STATS
    [stats] The US Open is the 32-year-old's last chance this season to get to 18 slam singles titles, the same mark as Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova and she's playing at her peak. She won 75% of her first serve points and hit 12 winners.
    9/5/2014 9:11:25 PM
    WILLIAMS 6-1 *1-0 MAKAROVA
    [break] Serena is in superb form today. She breaks to 15, but doesn't have to do too much in this opening game as her Russian opponent makes a few needless unforced errors.
    9/5/2014 9:13:25 PM
    WILLIAMS 6-1 2-0* MAKAROVA
    Williams has 62 titles from all tournaments, five in 2014. She gets a huge cheer from the home crowd thanks to a 121 mph ace and quickly follows that up with another ace. Easy hold!
    9/5/2014 9:14:57 PM
    WILLIAMS 6-1 *3-0 MAKAROVA
    [break] Williams is on the rampage. The top-ranked American earns another two more break point chances and takes it at the first time of asking with a forehand winner.
    9/5/2014 9:17:38 PM


    9/5/2014 9:17:55 PM
    SERENA'S FIRST SERVES
    [stats] Serena Williams has had 48% of her first serves unreturned so far this tournament.
    9/5/2014 9:19:43 PM
    WILLIAMS 6-1 4-0* MAKAROVA
    Ace number four is followed by a fine volley at the net after Williams races to the net and shows great reactions. She sends 17th-seeded Russian Ekaterina Makarova the wrong way to hold to love. This is utter devastation!
    9/5/2014 9:21:34 PM
    WILLIAMS 6-1 *4-1 MAKAROVA
    We've gone past the 40 minute mark and you wonder whether Makarova can take this beyond the hour mark. She comes to the net to hit a forehand winner, which receives a great cheer from the crowd. Williams is all too aware that she has not been at her best during grand slam tournaments this season, losing in the fourth round at the Australian Open, the second at the French Open, and the third at Wimbledon. Not since 2006 has she failed to reach at least one major final in a season. It'll take a miracle from Makarova from here as the top seed gets two more break points. The Russian saves them both this time and stops the rot of nine games by getting on the board in this second set. She won't be bagled, although she could receive a double breadstick. 
    9/5/2014 9:26:10 PM
    WILLIAMS 6-1 5-1* MAKAROVA
    The 32-year-old 17-time grand slam champion holds to 15 and is now just one game away from reaching another US Open final.

    SERENA CLOSES IN 



    9/5/2014 9:29:25 PM
    RISK OF RAIN
    [sunny-rain] World No 1 Djokovic, a seven-time grand slam title winner, faces Japan's Nishikori in today's first semi-final. The sun is blazing down at Flushing Meadows with temperatures reaching 33 degrees Celsius (92 degrees Fahrenheit) with humidity reaching 75%. There is a risk of showers later on in the day.
    9/6/2014 4:07:30 PM


    9/6/2014 4:07:44 PM
    ANOTHER SEMI FOR NOVAK
    It's the Serb's eighth consecutive US Open semi-final having shrugged off his early losses in the Masters events at Toronto and Cincinnati, understandable hangovers from his second Wimbledon win.


    I was aiming to play my best tennis in the US Open, and I knew that's going to happen," said Djokovic whose post-Wimbledon slump was hardly surprising with so much energy invested in his wedding and impending fatherhood. "Kei is playing the best tennis of his life in the last 12 months. He serves very efficiently. Obviously he's very, very fast, maybe one of the fastest on the tour."

    9/6/2014 4:10:00 PM
    BATTLE OF THE COACHES
    Saturday's semi-finals see four former grand slam champions in the coaching corners - 1989 US Open champion Boris Becker with Djokovic, six-time major winner Stefan Edberg in Federer's team, 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic is coaching Cilic while Nishikori is being coached by 1989 French Open champion and 1996 US Open runner-up Michael Chang.
    9/6/2014 4:10:59 PM
    FEDERER v CILIC
    [tennis] Up next Roger Federer will attempt to make the most of his second chance and reach the US Open final for the first time in five years. Five-time champion Federer brings a 5-0 career record against opponent Marin Cilic, who is the first Croatian to reach the US Open semi-final since coach Goran Ivanisevic in 1996.
    9/6/2014 8:17:30 PM
    FED ON CILIC
    Federer's record against Cilic includes a four-set win in New York in 2011 and at Toronto in three tough sets last month.

    He's done well in the past. It's not like he's come from the top 50 to all of a sudden be knocking on the top 10 door," said Federer of his 25-year-old opponent who was a semi-finalist at Australia in 2010 and a two-time quarter-finalist in New York in 2009 and 2012. "I think he's doing all the right things, Marin. I played him in Toronto. Funny match. I didn't play great in the first set but somehow got it done, and then I think I wasted like eight match points in the second set; had to go three."

    9/6/2014 8:19:19 PM


    9/6/2014 8:23:01 PM
    FEDERER *0-1 CILIC
    The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd are right behind Roger Federer in this contest. Marin Cilic serves first and hits a couple of winners after losing the opening point. The former world No 1 fires a winner into the open court before mistiming his backhand. The Croatian manages to hold.
    9/6/2014 8:28:16 PM
    WOZ EYES MAJOR UPSET
    Caroline Wozniacki, who shocked five-time grand slam champion Maria Sharapova in the fourth round, is back in a grand slam final for the first time since losing in the 2009 US Open final to Kim Clijsters and now she's out to make history tonight. She's preparing for the big night by listening to some tunes ...




    9/7/2014 8:00:02 PM
    AMAZING RECORD
    [stats] Williams is 74-1 after winning the opening set at the US Open. Jennifer Capriati was the only player to beat her from a set down!
    9/7/2014 9:37:06 PM
    FIRST SET STATS
    [stats] Williams won 75% of her first serve points and hit 15 winners. Wozniacki won just 27% of her second serve points and hit just one winner.
    9/7/2014 9:38:35 PM
    WILLIAMS 6-3 *1-0 WOZNIACKI
    [break] The five-time US Open winner pushes her opponent into the corners before making a fine volley at the net - 15-30. Williams catches the net cord and immediately says sorry as the ball falls on Wozniacki's side of the court. Two break points and she takes it after the Dane nets from way behind the baseline.
    9/7/2014 9:41:28 PM
    WILLIAMS 6-3 2-0* WOZNIACKI
    Williams opens up her next service game with a 124 mph ace and delivers her fifth ace of the match the very next point. The top seed is gaining confidence and holds to love with a 105 mph ace this time - her third of the game!

    SERENA ON SONG 



    9/7/2014 9:43:40 PM
    WILLIAMS 6-3 *2-1 WOZNIACKI
    It would be a great comeback from the great Dane if she is to gain her first major title. Williams uses a short angle to get Wozniacki out of position and level this game up at 30-30. Since Wimbledon Wozniacki has won 19 matches and lost just three, two of those have come against her good friend. Williams makes camel fodder of another poor first serve and lands a crosscourt winner to earn a break point. The 24-year-old saves it before going on to hold thanks to an unreturnable first serve.
    9/7/2014 9:49:31 PM




    9/7/2014 9:50:25 PM



    9/7/2014 9:51:43 PM
    WILLIAMS 6-3 3-1* WOZNIACKI
    The Dane was a prodigious talent, a US Open finalist at 19 and world No 1 by 20. But over the last three years, success on the biggest stage has dried up and she had not even made a slam quarter-final since the Australian Open in 2012. She is unable to get anywhere near Williams' next service game and the American has more breathing space.
    9/7/2014 9:53:18 PM
    Thanks very much to my partner Todd Martin who carried us to victory in the legends doubles v McEnroe bros. Now watching Serena ,impressive.
    by Pat Cash via twitter 9/7/2014 9:55:26 PM
    WILLIAMS 6-3 *3-2 WOZNIACKI
    Williams has won two titles and reached tonight's final in New York without dropping a set. The world No 1 fires her backhand into the net at 15-15 and can only find the net again on the next point. The Dane finishes off the game with her second winner of the match - an ace!


    THE DANE STAYS IN CONTENTION 


    9/7/2014 9:56:13 PM
    WILLIAMS 6-3 4-2* WOZNIACKI
    The Dane won her first title of the year in Istanbul and beating two top-10 players in Cincinnati last month. She's walking side-to-side as Williams cruises through her service game without being troubled one bit.
    9/7/2014 9:59:18 PM
    [stats] Williams has lost just two points on her serve so far in this second set.
    9/7/2014 9:59:48 PM
    WILLIAMS 6-3 *4-3 WOZNIACKI
    It's a straightforward service game for 10th seed Caroline Wozniacki - a hold to love and a third ace of the match.


    ASHE STADIUM IS PACKED TO CAPACITY 


    9/7/2014 10:01:16 PM
    WILLIAMS 6-3 5-3* WOZNIACKI
    Williams won WTA titles in Brisbane, Miami, Rome, Stanford and Cincinnati this year to make it 62 career singles titles. She is happy to trade blows from the back of the court with her good friend but the Dane fights back from 30-0 to 30-30. The 17-time grand slam champion steps it up again to smash a crosscourt angled sledgehammer to put her a game away from a hat-trick in New York.
    9/7/2014 10:06:40 PM
    The 2009 US Open finalist Wozniacki scampers across the court to find a wonderful winner - 15-15. Williams wins the point of the final - 26 shots - which ends with the Dane netting, although she was left completely out of breath. Williams makes another winner and she has TWO CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS ...
    9/7/2014 10:10:03 PM



    9/8/2014 12:07:59 PM



    9/8/2014 12:08:44 PM
    FINAL ODDS
    [betting]Kei Nishikori is the slight favourite with the bookmakers at 5/6, with Marin Cilic rated even-money (1/1) to lift the US Open trophy. Could we be in for a five-setter? It's 5/1 to go the distance in Nishikori's favour, while Cilic is 11/2 to win in five.
    Bet on the final here. Sign up to Sky Bet for a free £30 matched bet.
    9/8/2014 8:15:00 PM
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