US Open 2016: Djokovic, Monfils, Kerber and Wozniacki seal semi-final berths

World Number One Novak Djokovic cruised into the US Open semi-finals after his opponent Jo Wilfred Tsonga retired post hurting his left knee. Top-seeded Djokovic looked in a dominant position after winning the first two sets 6-3, 6-2 before Tsonga had to pull out early in the third set. The ‘Djoker’ has had one the easiest runs into the semi-finals courtesy some of his early round opponents retiring or withdrawing due to injuries and fitness concerns.

The second quarterfinal was an all French affair with seasoned Frenchman Gaël Monfils registering a comfortable straight set 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 victory over his fellow countryman Lucas Pouille. The victory took Monfils into his second career Grand Slam semi-final, his only other semi-final appearance being the 2008 French Open.

Monfils dominated the game from the very beginning as the youngster Pouille looked both physically and mentally drained after his marathon five setter victory over Rafael Nadal in the fourth round.

In the remaining two quarterfinals to be played out today, third seed Swiss ace Stanislas Wawrinka is scheduled to take on wildcard Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro while second seed Andy Murray shall lock horns against Japanese ace Kei Nishikori.

Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki book semi-final berths

Second seed German Angelique Kerber booked her place in the US Open semi-finals after defeating seventh seed Italian opponent Robert Vinca in her quarterfinals encounter. The first set proved to be a tight affair with Kerber putting up a spirited fightback to seal the set after being broken thrice by her seasoned opponent. However Kerber found her immaculate range and depth in ground strokes to completely decimate Vinci 6-0 in the second set.

Kerber has been a force to reckon in women’s tennis after winning the 2016 Australian Open and reaching the finals of coveted Wimbledon earlier this year. Meanwhile her seasoned opponent Vinci had been a finalist in the last edition of the US Open.

In the second quarterfinal, two times US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki registered a comfortable 6-0, 6-2 straight sets victory over surprise quarterfinalist Anastasija Sevastova.  The hard hitting Wozniacki ended Sevastova’s dream run at the US Open after the Latvian had sent third seed Garbine Muguruza and thirteen seed Johanna Konta packing from the tournament.

The remaining two quarterfinals scheduled to be played out later in the day shall witness top seed Serena Williams take on a formidable opponent in Simona Halep while Karolína Pliskova shall battle it out against giant killer Ana Konjuh.       

Indian campaign at Flushing Meadows ends after Sania Mirza crashed out in Women's Doubles Quarterfinals

There was some disappointment for the Indian tennis fans as Indian tennis queen Sania Mirza and her Czech partner Barbora Strycova crashed out of the US Open after losing their quarterfinal clash in straight sets 6-7, 1-6 to top seed Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic.