Australian Open: Semifinals

For the third time in the last four majors, the ATP's top 4 men will clash in the semifinals.  This time though, they have different opponents.  Djokovic has drawn Murray, and Nadal and Federer will meet for the 27th time.  On the women's side, three of the top 4 women have advanced to the semis, and the fourth player is the defending champion.  And unless Kim Clijsters wins the title, the Aussie Open champion will become the new world no. 1.  Clijsters has drawn the red hot Victoria Azarenka, while Sharapova and Kvitova will meet in a rematch of last year's Wimbledon final.  Here are their semi stats:

Men
1) Novak Djokovic (SRB) - 14th major semifinal (3rd at the AO), 6-7 record (2-0), 7th consecutive SF
2) Rafael Nadal (ESP) - 18th major semifinal (3rd at the AO), 14-3 record (1-1), 4th consecutive SF
3) Roger Federer (SUI) - 30th major semifinal (9th at the AO), 23-6 record (5-3), 2nd consecutive SF
4) Andy Murray (GBR) - 9th major semifinal (3rd at the AO), 3-5 record (2-0), 5th consecutive SF

Women
2) Petra Kvitova (CZE) - 3rd major semifinal (1st at the AO), 1-1 record, last '11 Wimbledon
3) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) - 2nd major semifinal (1st at the AO), 0-1 record, last '11 Wimbledon
4) Maria Sharapova (RUS) - 13th major semifinal (5th at the AO), 5-7 record (2-2), last '11 Wimbledon
11) Kim Clijsters (BEL) - 16th major semifinal (7th at the AO), 8-7 record (2-4), last '11 Aussie Open

Just to look at the greatness and consistency of the men of this area, these 4 men have now reached a combined 71 major semis, going 46-21.  (Nadal and Federer have combined to go 37-9.)  The women, even with their two multi-major winners, have reached now 34 major semis, a have a record of 14-16.

Somehow Wimbledon's grass is far more friendly to these women than the US Open's hard courts as 3 of them reached the semis there and Clijsters was hurt, but none even made the quarters at the US Open, yet here they together again in Melbourne.

Enjoy these matchups!