Nobody can say Kim Clijsters took an easy path to her U.S. Open title last year. She played both Williams sisters. This year, she'll only play one, though this could be an even more effective version of Venus Williams than came to Flushing Meadows in 2009. Clijsters and Williams each won their quarterfinal matches Tuesday to set up a marquee semifinal -- the No.

Rafael Nadal won his 18th consecutive Grand Slam match by beating fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 Wednesday in the fourth round of the U.S. Open. The top-seeded Nadal saved all four break points he faced against Lopez and has erased all 13 he's had to deal with this year in New York.

Clijsters' was anything but easy. Struggling with her serve, shaky off both arms and bothered by the wind, defending champion Kim Clijsters barely got past French Open runner-up Sam Stosur of Australia 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 in the quarterfinals Tuesday night. "After the match, I was like, 'How did I win this?' I didn't feel like I was playing well; Sam is a good player," Clijsters...