YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING GUIDE

Looking for a Christmas gift or a treat for yourself? Tennis apparel companies worked hard all year round to create stunning outfits and now our fashion contributor Marija Zivlak of Women's Tennis Blog will help you make the best selections.

My all-time favorite line is adidas adizero and looking back at the year behind us, the spring/summer clothes beat all the rest. The statement item from the collection is this purple three-piece dress, most famously worn by Ana Ivanovic, which features flash orange coordinating sports bra and compression shorts, neatly visible through sheer mesh insert on back. If you like to absolutely match everything, there is this orange tieband equipped with moisture-wicking technology and these graphic-print wristbands that offer maximum absorbency.

In the summer, adidas additionally blew us away with the neon pink and light flash green version of the wonderful style of clothes. As you can see, there are also separates, whose most prominent endorser is Simona Halep, and again a cute set of wristbands that flawlessly complete the look.

When it comes to Stella McCartney's work for adidas, the designer created a whole range of breathtaking clothes that most notably ensured utmost stylishness of world number three Garbiñe Muguruza during her spectacular 2015 rise. From the early season's divine match of athletic adidas Spring Stella McCartney Barricade Tank and ultra feminine pleated peach floral skirt to the late season's grey colorblock tank and its coordinating skirt, the 2015 was a big fashion success for Stella's players.

If you're looking for tennis whites with a special twist, the above shown Wimbledon separates are a great option, with nice touches of amber yellow accompanying functional half-zip in the adidas Fall Stella McCartney Tank and the innovative skirt with circular laser cuts. For footwear I'm picking these adidas Stella Barricade 8 shoes, while to break up the whites, I'm suggesting the yellow long-sleeve top with textured mesh at underarms.

The EleVen Ndebele Print Ready To Play Tank has it all: a lively colorful zig-zag print and super stylish back featuring triangular cutout and a nice fold that make the top stand out. There is a wide variety of bottoms you can pair it with and I'm picking this EleVen Ndebele Flutter Skirt.

For those days when you feel like being elegant in black, there's the sophisticated Denise Cronwall Jewel Cap-Sleeve Top with mesh raglan sleeves and print trim, matched with this ruffle skirt and long-sleeve shirt for warm-ups.

Fila's Fall Platinum Dress endorsed by Jelena Jankovic proved to be one of the best fitting dresses of the season in all its simplicity and this printed zip top is a perfect match for the solid dress. The collection's visor and wristbands with Fila's F-Box logo take this look up a notch.

If you like to look like a Grand Slam champion, go for Maria Sharapova's US Open dress or Serena Williams' US Open dress, while if you're on a more low-key side for everyday practice, this light blue kit from Nike's latest collection is just right for you. Even though the clothes are from the winter collection, all the items provide lightweight feel: from the copa blue tank with adjustable white spaghetti straps and the skirt with perforated sections, to the featherlight visor and Nike Zoom Vapor 9.5 Tour shoes that deliver quick and responsive ride in a light package.

SERENA WILLIAMS: WTA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

From winning three of the four Grand Slams to holding No.1 from start to finish, it should come as no surprise that Serena Williams has been voted WTA Player Of The Year for 2015.

From winning three of the four Grand Slams to holding No.1 from start to finish and an historic lead at that top ranking for six weeks in the summer, it comes as no surprise that Serena Williams has been voted WTA Player Of The Year, her fourth straight and seventh overall time receiving the honor.

Williams won her 19th, 20th and 21st majors at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, and coupled with her US Open title from last year she completed a Non-Calendar Year Grand Slam, her second self-stylized Serena Slam. Her first ran from the 2002 French Open to the 2003 Australian Open.

Her dominance of the tour was so great that she made WTA Rankings history in the summer, too. For six weeks she actually had over twice as many ranking points as the World No.2, something that had never happened before - Maria Sharapova was that No.2 for three weeks, Simona Halep the other three weeks.

But the Grand Slams and historic ranking points lead are just the tip of the iceberg on the World No.1's season. Her overall record was a sensational 53-3 - she won two more big WTA titles at Miami (a Premier Mandatory) and Cincinnati (a Premier 5), the only losses coming in the Madrid semifinals (Petra Kvitova), the Toronto semifinals (Belinda Bencic) and the US Open semifinals (Roberta Vinci).

Williams also pocketed $10,582,642 in 2015, second only to her own $12,385,572 from 2013.

"One of the factors for my results is just me being free and really enjoying the game, just really enjoying every time I'm out there," Williams said after winning Wimbledon. "Not that I didn't enjoy it before, but these last eight Grand Slams have come after I got really sick, and I have a different outlook on life now. Even though I'm super intense on the court all the time, I have more fun now."

And when asked during the summer about her personal highlights, Williams didn't just point to her on-court wins - she also pointed to her emotional return to a massive tournament she once dominated.

"I think Indian Wells was pretty amazing," she said, referring to her comeback to the BNP Paribas Open for the first time in 14 years and reaching the semifinals before withdrawing due to a knee injury.

"And I think Serena Slam 2.0 - winning Wimbledon - was pretty awesome, too. I didn't expect it."

Williams has now won WTA Player Of The Year seven times in her career - 2002, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. She's now tied with Martina Navratilova (seven) and trails only Steffi Graf (eight).

Though she had to wrap her season up after the US Open, Williams heads into the 2016 season as a clear favorite to keep piling on the majors - she's just one away from tying Graf's Open Era record.

This award was voted for by media and fans. Williams won the media vote with 79% (Garbiñe Muguruza was next with 12%); Agnieszka Radwanska won the fan vote with 52% (Williams was next with 37%).

Inca doua jucatoare s-au calificat la Turneul Campioanelor - ce adversare va avea Simona Halep

Dupa Simona Halep si Maria Sharapova, inca doua jucatoare au reusit sa obtina, joi, biletele pentru calificarea la Turneul Campioanelor din Singapore, ultima mare competitie de avengura a anului in tenisul feminin.

Este vorba despre Garbine Muguruza si Petra Kvitova, ocupantele locurilor 4 si 5 in clasamentul WTA Race.

Muguruza s-a calificat dupa ce a ajuns in sferturile de finala de la Beijing, in timp ce Petra Kvitova a profitat de conjunctura rezultatelor.

Urmatoarea jucatoare ce s-ar putea califica la Turneul Campioanelor este Angelique Kerber, care mai are nevoie de o singura victorie la Beijing.

Turneul Campioanelor din Singapore va incepe pe 23 octombrie in direct pe Ziare.com.

Anul trecut, Simona Halep s-a calificat in finala Turneului Campioanelor, unde a fost invinsa de Serena Williams. 

Serena Williams, Simona Halep and Maria Sharapova among WTA’s walking wounded

The WTA’s leaderboard looks a lot like a hospital ward at the moment. World No 1 Serena Williams has brought her season to an early end as she tries to “heal” her injuries and wounded heart.

Simona Halep, ranked second, retired in the opening set of her opening match at the China Open with a left-ankle injury. At the Wuhan Open last week, world No 3 Maria Sharapova, making her first appearance on the Tour since her semi-final defeat at Wimbledon, could not complete her match, pulling out in the third set of her game against Barbora Strycova with a painful left wrist and forearm.

The Russian has also opted out of this week’s China Open and now looks a doubt for the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore. Halep’s participation is also unsure, while Williams has already announced her withdrawal.

That is not the end of the casualty list. Garbine Muguruza, who is fourth in the Road to Singapore rankings, retired from the Wuhan Open final against Venus Williams with a left ankle injury. No 5 Petra Kvitova could not make it past the first round at the ongoing China Open, losing 7-5, 6-4 to Sara Errani.

The Czech was hampered by a shoulder injury and the lingering effects of glandular fever.

Lucie Safarova, sixth in the Road to Singapore, has not played a match since losing in the opening round at the US Open. The Czech is suffering from an abdominal tear and was also hospitalised with a bacterial infection.

But as the old adage goes, one woman’s injury is another one’s opportunity. So it will be interesting to see the final eight to make the finals in Singapore.

There are 1,750 points up for grabs in the final three weeks of the season and 27 players have a mathematical chance of qualifying.

Simona Halep s-a calificat in sferturi la US Open. Primele reactii: "Am fost ingrijorata, dar stiam ca nu trebuie sa renunt"

Simona Halep a invins-o pe Sabine Lisicki in trei seturi, scor 6-7; 7-5; 6-2 si s-a calificat pentru prima oara in sferturile de finala ale US Open.

Dupa un meci epuizant, care a durat doua ore si 38 de minute, Halep a reusit sa se califice in sferturile de finala ale competitiei.In faza urmatoare, Simona Halep va evolua contra Victoriei Azarenka, fost numar 1 mondial. In cele doua intalniri dintre jucatoare, Azarenka s-a impus fara probleme, in doua seturi. Simona Halep va primi 410.975 de dolari si 430 de puncte WTA pentru calificarea in sferturi.

"Am avut de muncit serios, a jucat incredibil, a fost un meci de mare lupta, am luptat pentru fiecare minge, dar e placut sa fiu in sferturi. La un moment dat am fost putin ingrijorata din cauza accidentarii de la coapsa, dar stiam ca nu trebuia sa renunt. M-a durut, dar am stiut ca trebuie sa raman concentrata. Ma simt destul de increzatoare pentru a castiga meciuri importante. Nu e usor sa joci pe aceasta caldura, dar e bine ca am castigat", a declarat Simona Halep, la Eurosport, dupa meci.
 

Desfasurarea meciului, LIVETEXT:

UPDATE 23:16 MECI SIMONA HALEP. Jucatoarea noastra a pierdut primul set la limita, s-a luptat aproape tot meciul cu o accidentare, insa s-a impus in decisiv cu 6-2, fara probleme!

UPDATE 23:14 5-2 Pentru Simona Halep! Lisicki incepe bine si conduce cu 30-0, insa Halep reuseste patru puncte la rand si se impune.

UPDATE 23:08 Este 4-2 pentru Simona Halep in decisiv! O revenire extraordinara, mai ales dupa ce a pierdut primul set absolut dramatic.

UPDATE 23:00 Se cunoaste faptul ca cele doua jucatoare au cam obosit. Niciun break pana in acest moment, 2-2 este scorul dupa primele 4 game-uri.

UPDATE 22:55 Inceput bun pentru Simona Halep, care se lupta in continuare pentru fiecare minge. Este 2-1 pentru jucatoarea noastra, Lisicki urmeaza sa serveasca.

UPDATE 22:43 Pauza foarte lunga inaintea setului decisiv. Jucatoarele au mers la vestiare, unde au incercat sa se recupereze.

UPDATE 22:32 SET SIMONA HALEP, 7-5. Este 1-1 la seturi, insa jucatoarea noastra acuza probleme fizice. Sa speram ca in setul decisiv va reusi sa reziste si sa se impuna.

UPDATE 22:25 Game Halep. Este 6-5 pentru jucatoarea noastra, care are sansa de a egala situatia la seturi.

UPDATE 22:20 Simona Halep incepe bine si face 30-0 pe serviciu adversarei. Lisicki revine insa, din nou, si isi castiga serviciul la avantaj. 5-5, iar meciul se indreapta iar catre tie-break.

UPDATE 22:15 5-4 pentru Simona Halep, dupa ce Lisicki reduce din diferenta. 8 break-uri in 9 game-uri au reusit jucatoarele in acest set doi.

UPDATE 22:12 Rebreak Halep! Jucatoarea noastra a luptat fantastic si si-a revenit in acest act secund dupa un prim set pierdut la limita.

UPDATE 22:10 Sabine Lisicki nu cedeaza si se lupta pentru fiecare punct. Germanca reuseste sa anuleze break-ul avans pe care il avea Halep.

UPDATE 22:07 4-2 pentru Simona Halep! Este pentru prima data in acest meci cand are doua game-uri avans.

UPDATE 22:04 Simona joaca din ce in ce mai bine si reuseste sa castige pe propriul serviciu. Este 3-2 pentru jucatoarea noastra.

UPDATE 21:58 Patru break-uri la rand in debutul setului doi. Este 2-2, Halep urmeaza sa serveasca. Speram ca va sparge gheata in acest set si va prelua conducerea.

UPDATE 21:47 Halep incepe din nou slab setul. Lisicki reuseste break-ul si serveste pentru a se distanta.

UPDATE 21:37 Final dramatic de prim set. Halep face 6-5 in tie-break si are minge de set, insa Lisicki revine, castiga trei puncte la rand si isi adjudeca primul act.

UPDATE 21:30 Primul set se va decide la tie-break. Meciul este extrem de echilibrat, oricare din sportive da impresia ca poate castiga acest joc. Jucatoarea care reuseste sa se impuna in acest tie-break ar putea avea un mare avantaj moral, care sa o ajute sa se impuna .

UPDATE 21:24 Simona Halep rateaza sansa de a incheia setul, pierzandu-si serviciul. Germanca reuseste sa castige doua game-uri la rand si conduce cu 6-5. Halep se lupta acum sa duca primul set in tie-break.

UPDATE 21:15 Halep preia pentru prima oara conducerea in acest meci, scor 5-4, si serveste pentru castigarea setului.

UPDATE 21:02 Meci foarte greu pentru Halep, care isi pierde iar serviciul. Sabine Lisicki face 4-2 si serveste pentru a se distanta, insa romanca revine extraordinar, face break-ul si reduce scorul la 4-3.

UPDATE 20:53 Romanca isi revine imediat si egaleaza situatia, dupa doua game-uri in care nu a avut probleme: 2-2.

UPDATE 20:44 Inceput slab de meci pentru Simona Halep. Romanca pierde primul game, apoi cedeaza si pe propriul serviciu. Este 2-0 pentru Sabine Lisicki.

UPDATE 20:35 Florin Mergea si Rohan Bopanna s-au calificat in sferturile competitiei, dupa o victorie in trei seturi! Pe teren a intrat acum Simona Halep, care se va duela cu Sabine Lisicki. Speram ca va fi cu noroc pentru jucatoarea noastra.

HALEP OUT OF MIXED, HINGIS INTO SEMIS

The third round of women's doubles and quarterfinals of mixed concluded on Monday afternoon at the US Open, with disappointment tinging the day for Simona Halep. The No.2 seed in singles, Halep was forced to withdraw from a blockbuster match with partner Horia Tecau against No.4 seed Martina Hingis and Leander Paes - the reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon mixed doubles champions.

"I cannot play anymore, so that's why I'm pulling out. I'm tired and I have problems with my leg," the Romanian told press following a grueling three-set win over Sabine Lisicki. Halep had been using mixed as a practice for her singles - and perhaps to test the waters of an Olympic entry with her countryman - but with a quarterfinal encounter with two-time US Open finalist Victoria Azarenkalooming, a tough choice had to be made.

"Horia understood. Not nice, but it's never nice when you pull out."

Halep visibly enjoyed her two wins with Tecau, and certainly didn't rule out a return to the co-ed competition come 2016.

"It was a fun, fun experience here."

The walkover is the second for Hingis and Paes this week; with the Swiss Miss still alive in women's doubles with Sania Mirza, an extra push towards a third mixed doubles major of the season must feel like a much-needed gift as the US Open heads into the final stretch.

Up next for the dynamic duo is No.2 seed Chan Yung-Jan, who won another long match with partner Rohanna Bopanna against two-time major doubles champion Hsieh Su-wei and her partner, Henri Kontinen, 7-6(7), 5-7, 13-11 in the super-tiebreak. Chan is also slated to play Hingis on Tuesday alongside sister Hao-Ching in the quarterfinals of women's doubles.

Earier in the day, No.12 seeds Alla Kudryavtseva and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova reached their first Grand Slam quarterfinal as a pair, surviving a second set lull to dispatch No.17 seeds Karin Knapp and 2012 champion Roberta Vinci, 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-2. Kudryavtseva is coming off an outstanding summer with Mylan World TeamTennis; playing for the Austin Aces, the Russian was named Rookie of the Year as she led the Aces into the championship match against the Washington Kastles - a team achored by Hingis and Paes. Elsewhere, Kristina Mladenovic couldn't replicate her singles heroics with fellow No.3 seed Timea Babos, losing to No.15 seeds Lara Arruabarrena and Andreja Klepac, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Simona Halep Vs Sabine Lisicki Live Result Stream Commentary Of The 2015 US Open Fourth Round (0-0)

Follow Simona Halep vs Sabine Lisicki at the U.S. Open, a fourth round encounter at the 2015 US Open. This match is scheduled to be played first at Louis Armstrong Stadium at Queens, New York, not before 12:30 PM Eastern Standard Time. Follow here for live stream, commentary and result on VAVEL.

These two players have met four times before with the Romanian leading the head-to-head 3-1. The German won their first ever meeting back in 2011 in Stanford, but the Romanian has won the last three. Their last meeting was on the Wimbledon grasses in the quarterfinals last year where Halep won 6-4, 6-0. 

Simona Halep vs Sabine Lisicki Live Stream Result US Open 2015

Lisicki didn't have too many problems in her opener when she defeated a qualifier in her opening round match. The 24th seed, who was aided by the upset of Timea Bacsinszky, took out fellow grass-court specialist Camila Giorgi in the second round. She would face Bacsinszky's opening round conqueror in Barbora Strycova in the third round. The German pulled off a miracle win as she stormed back from a 1-5 deficit in the third to win. 

The German's playstyle has something to with her success on grass. She has a big serve and uses the drop shot very well. Most women with big serves, and forehands for a matter of fact, have done well on grass and hard courts, but the simple fact that she hits flat makes her more dangerous on grass because of how low the ball can get. 

Simona Halep vs Sabine Lisicki Live Stream Commentary US Open 2015

For only the second time in her career, Sabine Lisicki has made it to the fourth round of the US Open. She made it this far back in 2011 and is now looking to take it one step further. The German is not known for her game on hard courts. She has struggled most of the time when playing on the hard courts, as she has put up her best results at Wimbledon on the grass. At Wimbledon, she has made it to the quarterfinals or better, five times. Anywhere else, she's never made it past the fourth round. 

After a couple of early exits in Slams, Halep has gotten it back together with this fourth round showing at the US Open. Like we said earlier, she's been all business these first three matches. Her first round opponent Marina Erakovic retired down 3-0 in the second after dropping the first. Next up was Kateryna Bondarenko. The Ukrainian looked solid at points in the match, but it was still another impressive display by the Romanian to move on. Her last opponent was American Shelby Rogers. The American looked a but overwhelmed playing on Ashe in a night session as Halep cruised to a three and two victory. 

2015 US Open Live Scores

Halep would make it more difficult on herself by getting in trouble early on in Cincinnati before making the final. She was pushed to three by now first-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist Kristina Mladenovic and then Andrea Petkovic. After that, she'd cruise to the final where she ran into world number one Serena Williams. The Romanian put up a strong fight but lost in three sets in the end. 

Lisicki herself played Bencic as well in her lead-up to the Rogers Cup final. The German posted the shock result of the first round by taking out former world number one Venus Williams 6-0, 6-3. Bencic took out the former Wimbledon finalist in three sets, losing in the final set tiebreak. 

Simona Halep vs Sabine Lisicki Live Result Stream Commentary 

In the final, she faced off against Belinda Bencic, the 18-year-old teen sensation from Canada. Despite being the older of the two finalists, Halep didn't play like at times squandering leads and playing much faster when she was in those tight moments. Bencic however cracked under pressure a bit herself getting broken when serving out for the match but managed to win in three as the Romanian retired. 

For the first time since Wimbledon, we saw Halep play in Toronto for the Rogers Cup. Her path to the final was not easy in taking out Jelena Jankovic, Angelique Kerber, Agnieszka Radwanska, and Sara Errani to get to the final. Her match againstKerber was extremely memorable for the amount of physically punishing rallies they had as back and forth they went before the world number two finally took command late. Against Radwanska, it looked like those long rallies against Kerber had taken it's toll on the Romanian as she was handed an opening set bagel before righting the ship. 

Simona Halep vs Sabine Lisicki Live Stream Commentary 

Romanian Simona Halep has had a more business-like performance in getting to this point of the US Open. However, it seems like what she has done leading up to the tournament was a bit under appreciated as well for a player who is world number two. 

Hello everyone! This is Max Gao and I will be covering this fourth round match live between world number two Simona Halep and German Sabine Lisicki. I'll be here to give you live updates as well as point-by-point commentary. Stay tuned for a preview to the match. 

U.S. Open: Andy Murray upset by Kevin Anderson

Third-seeded Andy Murray climbed back into his match against No. 15 Kevin Anderson on Monday after falling behind by two sets and a break, destroying a racket and yelling at his fans, his coaches and himself in the process.

But Anderson closed him out in a fourth-set tiebreak, winning seven straight points to advance, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 6-7 (7-2), 7-6 (7-0), in a fourth-round match at the U.S. Open. The win puts Anderson, a 29-year-old from South Africa, in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam event for the first time.

“I’m a little lost for words right now,” Anderson told an on-court reporter. “Honestly, I played one of the best matches of my life. . . . It feels very — just amazing.”

Meanwhile, Murray’s loss ends a streak of 18 straight Grand Slam quarterfinal appearances for the 2012 U.S. Open champion, not including the 2013 French Open, which he missed with a back injury.

“Obviously, that’s many years’ work that’s gone into building that sort of consistency,” Murray said. “To lose that is tough.”

Action from the 2015 U.S. Open

Victoria Azarenka and Stan Wawrinka advance to the quarterfinals in Monday’s matches.

Earlier this year at Wimbledon, Anderson grabbed a two-set lead over No. 1Novak Djokovic in a fourth-round match, only to let Djokovic come back and win in five sets.

Monday’s match, the longest of the tournament so far at 4 hours 18 minutes, headed in that direction after Murray took the 70-minute battle of a third set.

Neither player earned a break in the fourth set, with Anderson squandering both of his break-point chances and Murray not earning any, sending the players to a third tiebreaker in Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Anderson won all seven points in that tiebreaker, including a 20-shot rally that ended in an unforced error from Murray.

After Murray ended the match by hitting a forehand into the net, Anderson put his hands on his head, holding them there for a moment before pulling off his hat.

Hobbled Halep moves on

Before No. 2 seed Simona Halep celebrated her final winner of a 6-7 (8-6), 7-5, 6-2 victory over No. 24 Sabine Lisicki with a fist pump, she leaned forward on her racket, heaving a breath while taking pressure off her injured left leg.

After shaking hands with Lisicki and the court umpire and waving to the crowd, Halep beelined to her chair, easing herself into it before hanging her head, elbows on knees.

Serena Williams goes for the Grand Slam

World No. 1 Williams is aiming to be the first player since Steffi Graf in 1988 to win all four Grand Slam events in a calendar year.

That’s how the match went for the 23-year-old: moments of success surrounded by pain and frustration. When her leg was not hurting, Halep’s back started cramping, she said.

“Today was really tough against Lisicki because she was hitting strong. I had just to stay there, to run a lot,” Halep said. “That’s why I felt my muscle.”

With her 2-hour 38-minute fourth-round win, Halep earned her first quarterfinal appearance in New York.

“I have last eight badge now,” Halep said. “It was a big goal.”

Still remaining on Halep’s to-do list is winning a Grand Slam title.

“I had many expectations in French Open and Wimbledon and wasn’t good, so here I changed a little bit my mind, and I have no expectations,” Halep said. “I have no pressure.”

Federer, Wawrinka advance

The first break of the fourth-round match between No. 2 seed Roger Federer and No. 13 John Isner came on the final point, as Isner missed a volley to seal a 7-6 (7-0), 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 defeat.

Isner’s loss means no American male will reach the U.S. Open quarterfinals for the fourth straight year.

Isner’s 7-0 loss in the first-set tiebreak was the first scoreless tiebreak of his pro career.

“Obviously John has one of the best serves in the game,” Federer said. “I think especially the pace on his second serve is unreal, yeah, so I think you’ve just got to hang around.”

Earlier, No. 5 seed Stan Wawrinka won his first set but dropped the second as American Donald Young overcame a deficit here for the fourth time. But Wawrinka prevented Young from pulling off another upset, winning, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Prime time sisters

A day after Serena and Venus Williams won to set up a quarterfinal match, organizers announced the sisters will play at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Simona Halep vs Sabine Lisicki: 2015 US Open live scores

 Will Simona Halep be the next major seed to fall out of the US Open with a loss to Sabine Lisicki? Join The Roar for live scores from around 2.30am (AEST).

Simona Halep is the favourite to win her part of the draw and set up a match-up with Serena Williams in the final of the tournament.

The Romanian has so far cruised through the tournament and will be looking for a challenge so that she can prepare for possibly her first ever grand slam title.

Halep is the 2nd seed after world number 1 Williams, and holds a win-loss record in her last ten matches of 8-2 with losses to Serena Williams in the final of the Cincinnati Masters and Belinda Bencic as a result of retirement during the final of the Canadian Masters.

To get to the fourth round, Halep has had to beat Marina Erakovic (Retired; Round 1), Kateryna Bondarenko (6-3, 6-4; Round 2) and Shelby Rogers (6-2, 6-3; Round 3).

Sabine Lisicki is one of the best young prodigies on the WTA Tour and is in the middle of a record run at the US Open. Just like Halep, the German right-hander has never won a grand slam. She will be looking to claim a win that will see her surge up the rankings and contest the US Open title.

Lisicki is seeded 24th and holds a win-loss record of 6-4. Her US Open campaign has so far seen her defeat Aliaksandra Sasnovich (6-1, 6-4; Round 1), Camila Giorgi (6-4, 6-0; Round 2) and Barbora Strycova (6-4, 4-6, 7-5; Round 3).

Halep and Lisicki have played each other on four occasions, Halep winning the most recent three and Lisicki the first. They have only met once at a grand slam, their most recent being a match in which Halep defeated Lisicki in straight sets 6-4, 6-0 during the quarter-finals of the 2014 Wimbledon tournament.

Prediction
Halep will edge out Lisicki in a tough match to keep her spot as one of only three top ten seeds.

Halep in three sets.

Join The Roar for live scores from around 2.30am (AEST).

Feel free to follow the live scores, and drop a comment in the box below if you’re watching the match.