The form players at the US Open
into shape with each match in order to prepare for the latter stages of the tournament. Against Serena Williams in the semi finals she faces her toughest task. Having played Venus twice in the lead-up tournaments, Lindsay got demolished the first time – a sign she was not ready to return to that level of competition – and mentally lost her way the second time – a sign she does not believe she can vanquish a Williams.
If someone can match Serena with the pace of shot from the baseline and the serving power and spin (first and second), that person is Lindsay. However, it remains to be seen whether the superior physical - and at the moment, mental – capabilities of Serena Williams will be a dominant factor against Lindsay.
AMELIE MAURESMO
Seed: 10
Ranking: 9
Grand Slams: 0
2001 US Open performance: Quarter-finalist (losing to Jennifer Capriati)
Best US Open performance: Quarter-finalist (2001)
Amelie Mauresmo is one of the most talented players on the tour. She has won eight career titles, she has been ranked in the Top 5, she has beaten all of the top players (not named Williams) and has reached a Grand Slam final and two Grand Slam semi finals. However, now is a good opportunity for Mauresmo to step up and take her game to the next level.
Mauresmo is in excellent form. She won Montreal in great fashion, dominating Capriati in the finals. Her path to this stage of the tournament has been tough as she has had to guts out some tough wins against Top 10 players Kim Clijsters and Jennifer Capriati in the last two rounds. It is a sign that her physical strength and her talent has matched up with the mental aspect of her game which has been a clear deficiency since she came on to the tour.
However, will she resign herself to losing against a Williams? She knows she can beat anyone and has the game to beat anyone but as of yet has not claimed a scalp over Serena or Venus. It is obvious that it does weigh on her mind, having stated at Wimbledon that she would have to settle for the #3 ranking after the Williams juggernaut.
Add to that the pressure of a Grand Slam semi final. It will be interesting to see just how Amelie holds herself together on this occasion. I believe that there
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