Ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki joined Kim Clijsters, Serena Williams and Yanina Wickmayer in the semifinals of the 2009 US Open, putting an end to Melanie Oudin's fairytale.

Wozniacki defeated Oudin 6-2 6-2 in the quarterfinals, but still, the world No.70 Oudin gave her career a major boost, to the extent that now we’re reading gossip about her family (her father is seeking a divorce from his wife because she cheated on him with Melanie’s tennis coach).

"I've gone from being just a normal-like tennis player to almost everyone in the United States knowing who I am now," said the 17-year-old Oudin, who had defeated four higher-ranked Russians to reach the quarterfinals.

"It's definitely different but I enjoyed it."

Wozniacki's opponent in the semifinals will be Yanina Wickmayer and they have never played each other before. (source: Reuters, photo courtesy of Women Who Serve)

American 17-year-old Melanie Oudin has suddenly become famous by placing herself as a player the US can count on besides the Williams sisters, although, I have to remind you, she first made headlines at this year’s Wimbledon, having come out of nowhere to reach the fourth round.

As world No.70 Melanie Oudin, the talk of the 2009 US Open, is still a less known player, people have had a few problems with her identity. On the Baseline’s Paula Vergara has made a funny Top 10 list of the comments most overheard at the US Open about Oudin. I love it!

10. She’s French, right?

9. Twin sister? You mean there are two of them?

8. Her boyfriend is cuter than she is.

7. Is that Reese Witherspoon?

6. I say Justine Henin is taller.

5. It’s so weird. She looks American.

4. I heard she writes on her shoes.

3. Who’s that "giant killer?"

2. Oudin speaks English really well.

1. At least she doesn’t grunt.

(photo courtesy of Women Who Serve)

Wow, we’re having two Belgians in the US Open semifinals, and Justine Henin is not one of them – there is less known 19-year-old Yanina Wickmayer, ranked 50th in the world, winner of one WTA title (the 2009 Estoril Open), and former world No.1 Kim Clijsters, who is playing only her third tournament after a two-year-long absence from competitive tennis. Who would have expected this?

The 2005 US Open champion Clijsters was the first to reach the semis, with her victory over Li Na. Wickmayer, who had never went further than the second round at a Grand Slam, became one of the final four players at this US Open by beating Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko 7-5 6-4 in the quarters.

For a place in the final Wickmayer will play against another teenager, either American hope Melanie Oudin or No.9 seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark. (photo: emmett.hume)

Fortunately, we have had plenty of occasions to watch Kim Clijsters at the US Open, but one thing has been unclear by now: What's that mark on Kim's face? I’m sure you’ve noticed it.

The Belgian explains the bizarre and unfortunate course of events behind the strange mark. To watch the following video you will need to click on it and watch it on YouTube (why are they so unfriendly as to disable embedding?).

Additional info: Besides her YouTube channel which I would recommend, Kim has redesigned her website, and her Twitter account is very live as well. Check them all out!

Second seed Serena Williams beat one of the hottest players lately – seed No.10 Flavia Pennetta – 6-4 6-3 and reached the semifinals of the US Open where her opponent will be wildcard Kim Clijsters, the sensation of the tournament.

The defending champion Williams is 7-1 lifetime against Clijsters, and 7-0 on hardcourts, but the mother of little Jada is far from the "elephant" she used to feel like when she picked up a racquet for the first time after giving birth (Clijsters’ quote: "I felt like an elephant sometimes, just trying to move. Even two steps was terrible.")

Williams has only the greatest things to say about her next opponent:

I've seen how she has been moving. It seems like she's even faster than she was before. I was thinking maybe I should have a baby and then I'll come back faster. I have nothing but good feelings for Kim. She's such a good-hearted person. She takes tennis seriously, but life even more seriously. That's the type of person I am, too.

Despite so many victories of the 11-time Grand Slam champion Williams over Clijsters, the two are expected to provide a blockbuster semifinal. After all, Williams won the US Open in 1999, 2002 and 2008, and Clijsters won it in 2005. (photo via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

I have already shared it on Women's Tennis Blog that Dinara Safina will remain No.1 in the WTA rankings whichever course of events at the US Open, but Safina’s top ranking will be short lived if Serena Williams reaches the US Open finals.

If the second-ranked Williams progresses all the way to the finals, she will take Safina’s place in the rankings just one week after the US Open, in the September 21 rankings.

Slamless Dinara Safina has been ranked No.1 since April 20, 2009, even though Serena Williams won three of the last four Grand Slams.

Will defending champion Serena Williams achieve the feat and hopefully end the tiring debate about the rankings?

Additional info: Safina was upset in the third round of the ongoing US Open, while Williams will play her quarterfinal match against Flavia Pennetta later today. (source: ESPN, photo by our reader Jacob)

Belgian Kim Clijsters may be playing her first Grand Slam since the 2007 Australian Open, but has quickly assured the world that she is the player to beat on the WTA Tour. Along with teenager Melanie Oudin, tennis mom Clijsters is marking the 2009 US Open, being unranked and playing only her third tournament after a two-year-long break.

After victories over seeds number 14 and 3, Marion Bartoli and Venus Williams respectively, Clijsters sent packing yet another seed, No.18 Li Na, and remarkably reached the semifinals of the Grand Slam she won in 2005. Clijsters beat Li 6-2 6-4 in 63 minutes.

Progressing to the final four, Clijsters has equaled Zheng Jie’s Wimbledon 2008 campaign – the best performance by a women's wildcard in a Grand Slam. In addition, the former world No.1 Clijsters is expected to leap back into the Top 50.

Clijsters' opponent in the semifinals will be holder Serena Williams or in-form Italian Flavia Pennetta. (photo: Stephane Martinache)

Melanie Oudin won’t have the pleasure of meeting yet another Russian at this US Open, as Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark will be her next opponent, who eliminated the last Russian in the draw, sixth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal by defeating Kuznetsova 2-6 7-6(5) 7-6(3). Wozniacki converted her third match point, having wasted one at 5-4 and one at 6-5 in the third set.

"I hit too many unforced errors and I couldn't control my emotions. And I wanted it so much, so it was pretty hard to control," world No.6 Kuznetsova said. "All credit to her. But you can't win against anybody with those errors. No chance."

The world No.8 Wozniacki was the highest-ranked player never to have been among the final eight at a Grand Slam. World No.18 Virginie Razzano is that player now. (source: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, photo: Ralf Reinecke)