Seeds: Andy Roddick, Juan Martin Del Potro, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Fernando Gonzalez, Robin Soderling, Marin Cilic, Tommy Robredo, Tomas Berdych, Mardy Fish, Tommy Haas, Ivo Karlovic, Viktor Troicki, Igor Andreev, Dmitry Tursunov, Dudi Sela, Sam Querrey

The Williams sisters are attempting to put at least one sister in the final for an amazing nine of the last 10 years.

Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama topped No. 24 seed Patty Schnyder 6-4, 6-4, and Italian veteran Francesca Schiavone outlasted No. 23 seed Aleksandra Wozniak 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

It was the first appearance in a Slam quarterfinal for the Slovak. For Sharapova it was an unexpected run after injury on her worst surface, where her movement remains a liability.

“He didn’t surprise me because I know how he plays and how dangerous he can be,” Nadal told reporters. “I didn’t play my best. I played very short and I couldn’t attack. I made it easy for him to play at his level. But I lost. It’s not a tragedy, I had to lose one day. I must accept my defeats with the same level of calm that I accept my victories.”

Safina was 0-2 career against Williams, but the elder Williams sister could not hold on to a set and a break in the second lead. Safina leads Kuznetsova 7-5 in career meetings, but lost to her countrywoman last weekend in the Stuttgart final.

“We both played aggressive,” Venus told the media. “She’s just going for every shot, for the lines. I was OK with the match being a little longer. I just I want to hit balls. In a way it’s not too bad to go three sets.”

5. Larry SCOTT
Getting out while the gettings good. WTA about to lose major sponsors, and Williams sisters retirement will mean end of American tennis.

“The match was difficult in this heat,” Murray said. “I lost my rhythm a little in the second set but I was able to finish it anyway.”

In the final Serena will face Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka, who overcame a bout of choking to defeat another mentally-challenged opponent, Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.