The last American standing

The last American standing in both the women's and men's singles brackets won here nine years ago - an eternity in tennis years - but is on the cusp of her first Open final appearance since that 2001 season, when she won in Flushing and at Wimbledon. But first Williams will have to dispatch defending champ Kim Clijsters in her semifinal match Friday, a task that involves running around on a balky left knee and trying to solve the Flushing wind, an element that has wreaked havoc

Williams has gone 6-6 in her previous encounters with Clijsters, the most recent matchup coming in Miami this year, a hardcourt surface like the Open, when the Belgian prevailed 6-2, 6-1. But the stakes are much higher this tournament - with younger players such as Wozniacki on the rise, the pressure to make a Slam final only gets greater. Clijsters, for one however, doesn't see any vulnerability in her opponent, least of all in Williams' age.

Venus Williams

Country: United States of America

Birth Date: 17 June 1980

Birth Place: Lynwood, CA, USA

Residence: Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA

Height: 6 ft. 1 in. ( 1.85 meters )

Weight: 159 lbs. ( 72.3 kilos )

Plays: Right

Turned Pro: 1994