“I’m just really excited to be in the final now,” said Williams who led 6-1, 5-1. “In the beginning of the week I definitely wasn’t sure that I would make it this long. Definitely wasn’t sure I’d still be here.”

Preview notes on the US Open women’s semifinals.

Novak Djokovic outlasted Andy Murray Wednesday night in the US Open quarterfinals.

Notes: Solid field with four Top 10ers and two unseeded Slam champs…The Top 4 seeds receive opening round byes, with tough starts for (5) Ivanovic vs. Lisicki, (4) Azarenka after a bye likely vs. (WC) Venus, (3) Kerber likely vs. Vandeweghe, (7) Suarez Navarro vs. Puig, and (2) Radwanska likely vs. Garcia…Wildcards went to Americans Kristie Ahn and Venus, and Azarenka…Pulling from the tournament were Sara Errani and Petra Kvitova…Cibulkova beat Radwanska in last year’s final…Venus is 2-4 in Stanford finals…Martina Navratilova (5-4) has reached the most Stanford finals in the tournament’s history…Returning champs in the field are Cibulkova (2013), Serena Williams (2012-11), Azarenka (2010), and Venus Williams (2002,’00).

Notes: One of the toughest 28-draw fields of the year with seven Top 10 players among the seeds, and more dangerous floaters than seeds…Challenging starts for (1) Serena after a bye vs. the Kleybanova-Makarova winner, (5) Jankovic after a bye vs. the Stephens-Safarova winner…

The unseeded Pavlyuchenkova won the Open GDF Suez in Paris, in the final upsetting No. 3 seed Sara Errani 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. En route to the final the Russian also ousted Top 10 players Angie Kerber and Maria Sharapova.

Notes: Strong field with four Top 10ers…Tough starts for (1) Sharapova after a bye likely facing Hantuchova, (2) Kvitova after a bye likely meeting Cornet, and (8) Flipkens vs. the defending champion Barthel…Wildcards went to Caroline Garcia, Petra Kvitova and Kristina Mladenovic…Pulling from the tournament were Dominika Cibulkova, Ana Ivanovic, Kaia Kanepi and Lucie Safarova…Returning champs in the field are Barthel (2013), Kerber (2012), and Kvitova (2011).

Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras had kids, right? Where are they? Somewhere along the line the U.S. forgot to carry on the lineage.

Notes: Three former No. 1s among the seeds…No Williams sisters but plenty of Top 10ers and floaters…The Top 4 seeds receive opening-round byes…Tough openers for (1) Azarenka after a bye against Pennetta or Schiavone, (4) Vinci after a bye likely against the veteran Mattek-Sands, (7) Ivanovic vs. Cibulkova, (5) Stosur vs. the rolling Lepchenko, and (2) Radwanska after a bye likely vs. the veteran Hantuchova…Wildcards went to American Allie Kiick, France’s Virginie Razzano, and Stosur…Pulling from the event were Marion Bartoli, Kirsten Flipkens, Bojana Jovanovski, Kristina Mladenovic and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova…Martina Hingis and Hantuchova received a wildcard in doubles…Cibulkova beat Bartoli in the final last year…Returning champions in the field are Cibulkova (2012), Radwanska (2011), and Kuznetsova (2010).

Rafael Nadal looked sharp in his Madrid opener today at the Magic Box.

Serena Williams was stunned today at the Australian Open.

“For the past two weeks, we’ve discussed a lot about my game,” Llodra said of Mauresmo. “She’s been a great help and she’s helped me to prepare for my matches so that I feel more comfortable when I go out on the court. I have to thank Amelie, it’s a pleasure to work with her.”