Today, Rafa Nadal and Fernando Gonzalez will pick up where they left off on Thursday night at 2:30 p.m. Nadal won the first set in a tiebreaker and the two are tied at 6-6 in the second. The match was postponed due to rain. Gonzalez is presenting a strong challenge to the third seed, who appears troubled by abdominal pain.

The winner will oppose Argentinean strong man Juan Martin Del Potro who survived a first set challenge from Marin Cilic before subduing the 16th seeded upstart. Displaying more athleticism and a high level of confidence, Del Potro looks like a favorite to reach the finals where he would meet either 4th seed Novak Djokovic or top seed Roger Federer. The Men’s semifinals are scheduled for Saturday with the final slated for Sunday afternoon.

Spectators are looking forward to today’s Women’s semifinals and especially the match between former number one Kim Clijsters and top seed Serena Williams. The winner will be a heavy favorite against the winner of the other semifinal, either relatively unknown Yanina Wickmayer or Dane Caroline Wozniacki.

Clijsters and Williams have been the best two participants in this year’s tournament. Williams has appeared virtually untouchable and with her strong serve and competitive temperament is favored to win another Grand Slam.

Clijsters possesses several surprising wins, including a fairly easy triumph over Venus Williams. The young mother seems surprised by her success but has the skills to battle the power-hitting Williams.

In the other semi-final, Melanie Oudin conqueror and another media sweetheart, Caroline Wozniacki, is heavily favored to oust the upstart Wickmayer. Flashing a brilliant smile, a spiffy wardrobe and consistent ground strokes, Wozniacki appears unflappable. Unfortunately she does not posses the serve or power needed to compete against either Clijsters or Williams in the Saturday finals.

As expected, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal appear to be on a Sunday afternoon collision course in the finals of the 2009 U.S. Open. But, hold it! Don’t forget that we picked impressive Juan Martin Del Potro to upset the apple cart and escape the U.S. with the Open Cup in his hands. And, you know what? We still like his chances.

On Tuesday, the possibility of a Del Potro-Nadal semi-final pairing took another exciting step forward. Rafa did his thing against impressive French fireballer Gael Monfils in an evening match that had enthralled spectators gasping for air. Nadal’s four set 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 triumph sported two of the fleetest players to grace the game.

In a display of pure athleticism, it would be hard to top this matchup. Rafa Nadal did not have time to show effects from his recent knee or abdominal issues. Monfils came out fast and asserted his will in the opening set. But, as usual, Nadal wears on opponents. He settled to the pace and gradually took charge of the match. The two showmen were most entertaining and provided a series of thrillingly deft shots.

Nadal will face Fernando Gonzalez who surprised the other great French player Jo Wilfried Tsonga with a stirring 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3), 6-4 victory. Gonzalez showed Tsonga no quarter and had answers for Tsonga’s power game. Solid groundstrokes paved the way for the upset. Gonzalez will square off with Nadal on Thursday but it seems unlikely, the Chilean can stay with the hard charging Spaniard.

Perhaps the most disappointing match of the day was a lackluster effort put forth by number two seed, Scotsman Andy Murray. Wearing his best “deer-in-the-headlights” blank look, Murray put on a Safina-like performance that should complete his over-ranked resume. In a pitiful semblance of the play that fans expect from a quality player, Murray’s tennis career seems headed in the wrong direction. Perhaps, a visit to the friendly sports shrink would help?

A triumphant 16th seed, Croatian Marin Cilic, seemed as bewildered as the crowd. He blew past the listless red-head in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in an embarrassing performance for which the U.S. Open should refund the admission price. At least Murray is done for this year. He needs a break and a new sense of commitment.

Tonight the top-seeded Federer will be center stage against a familiar opponent, Sweden’s Robin Soderling. Soderling will certainly give it his all, but Roger has the answers for Soderling’s big serve. Nonetheless, Soderling has had a strong year.

In the match of the day, Fernando Verdasco will be looking to upset 4th seed Novak Djokovic in a late afternoon pairing. Verdasco and Djokovic have both been on their games so fans expect a battle royal. After the Murray fiasco, a hotly contested match would be a welcome site.

As Nadal and Monfils played late in the night, the cameras shifted briefly to an outside court where a taped Melanie Oudin was practicing for her underdog performance against hot Dane Caroline Wozniacki. The young American has been on a constant media watch and fans wonder how she can maintain her focus.

After her triumph over Italian Flavia Pennetta, Serena Williams told interviewers she was caught up in the Melanie watch and would be cheering for the rising start this evening. Serena will go against Kim Clijsters tomorrow in a stern test against the woman who blasted her sister.

The planet’s best tennis player sits in his rightful place atop the 2009 U.S. Open Draw.  Roger Federer will endure some disappointment at this U.S. Open, but it will not diminish the status of the tennis Master of the Universe.

With 15 Grand Slam Championships including two of three in 2009 and with 5 consecutive U.S. Open titles to his credit, nobody would dare dispute this seeding.  Switzerland’s Roger Federer is the best tennis professional to have ever played the game.  He serves the game, his fans and his opponents well.

With that said, it still looks like too bumpy a road to the title in 2009.  Beginning in the third round, there are some familiar names that could pose serious problems for the 2009 French Open and Wimbledon champion.  Australian  Lleyton Hewitt, the 2001 Champion, never goes away quietly and should be Federer’s third round opponent while either crowd favorite American James Blake or Spain’s Tommy Robredo loom as fourth round opponents.

In the quarters, Federer can look forward to Sweden’s Robin Soderling, whose big serve is well suited for New York or Russian Nikolay Davydenko, who is rapidly climbing the rankings.

Federer may be the top seed, but that is no ordinary bracket.  In fact, Roger may have a more difficult time reaching the semis than in any other event this year.

Should Roger escape the quarters, there will be some hungry talent across the net for the semis.  Either the fourth seed, Novak Djokovic or the fifth seed, Andy Roddick will be waiting.

Djokovic’s biggest tests will come from Russian Igor Andreev (3rd round) and German Phillip Kohlschreiber or Czechoslvakia’s Radek Stepanek(4th round) in a bracket that looks decidedly less imposing than Federer’s.

Homestanding and Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick will have legions of fans trying to push him past German Tommy Haas, Spain’s Fernando Verdasco.  Roddick’s new mindset and improved play make him a hard out for anyone.  Expect Roddick to reach the semis and then watch out.

The unlikely third seed is Spain’s enigmatic Rafael Nadal.  Nadal has never won the Open and has only accomplished the semis once.  His court demeanor does not bode well with the New York crowds, who will once again be all over his act.  Nadal has a relatively smooth path to the semis with Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez and France’s Jo Wilfried Tsonga providing the steepest challenges.  Of late, neither Gonzalez nor Tsonga have been especially successful on the large stage.  Nadal will only have himself to blame if he does not reach the semis.

Second seeded Andy Murray has a tougher road to the semis.  Sixth seeded Juan Martin De Potro looms as a likely quarterfinal matchup.  There will be some business to do for Murray to get that far.  Croatian Ivo Karlovic and Switzerland’s Stanislaus Wawrinka or Marin Cilic could present challenges to the unpredictable Murray.

Murray is always the most difficult player to assess.  Loaded with superstar talent, one must question the Brit’s will to win.  Something always seems to happen to the flamboyant star.  Perhaps the Scotsman will fare better on this side of the pond.  His profile shows that Murray seems to wilt under the media focus.  Unfortunately, Murray’s career is marked with dynamic wins in meaningless matches.  When he reaches center stage, he seems to alter his game plan and play outside his superior talent level.

We think Del Potro will overcome Murray and meet Nadal in the semis.  We also see Federer stumbling to Davydenko who will fend of challenges to reach the semis.

Roddick will ride the crowd past Djokovic and storm past Davydenko to reach the finals again.  Nadal will fall to Del Potro who will claim the eventual title in a five set thriller.  However, if Del Potro goes into one of his inexplicable lackluster periods, Roddick will seize the moment and never look back.  Del Potro rallies to win the Open.  You heard it here!