This past week of tennis in Rome for the women has been full of excitement, twists, and turns.  Now into the semifinals, four women are left to battle it out for the title.  Let's preview the two women's semifinals that will be played on Saturday, one in the early afternoon, and one in the evening.

Semifinal #1- Serena Williams vs. Li Na

As expected, Serena Williams has not really been challenged so far in Rome.  With the exception of a three-set win over Russian veteran Nadia Petrova, Williams has cruised.  Coming off of a win in Madrid last week, she has to be the favorite in this match and in the Final if she reaches it.  Li Na has also played extremely well so far this week in Rome.  She is coming off of an impressive straight-set win over Dominika Cibulkova.  As for their head-to-head match-up, Na matches up relatively well with Williams.  She is one of the hardest-hitting women on tour and is capable of taking control of points and forcing her opponent to play defensively.  While this will be a tremendous challenge against Williams, the un-official No. 1 player in the world, Na is more than capable of pulling off the upset.  As for Williams, she will need to continue to serve well and stay ahead in points.  As long as she can continually be on the offensive, there is no reason to think that she will not be playing in the Final on Sunday.  I predict Williams to move on in two competitive sets. 

Semifinal #2- Maria Sharapova vs. Angelique Kerber    

Angelique Kerber has been one of the pleasant surprises so far in 2012.  She has continually shwon the ability to upset top players with her power from the baseline as a lefty.  In her quarterfinal match against hard-hitting lefty Petra Kvitova, Kerber rebounded from losing the second set 6-1 to take a stranglehold on the third set with a pair of breaks.  She went on to take the deciding set 6-1 to set up a date with Sharapova, who battled past Venus Williams in a pair of tough sets.  Sharapova has looked really good so far this week.  So far in 2012, she has been one of the more consistent players on tour.  After bowing out to Williams last week in Madrid while just winning a trio of games, Sharapova has been on the top of her game on the orange clay in Italy.  She will need to continue to serve well and defend well against the aggressive lefty from Germany.  Kerber has the ability to dictate points against most players on the women's tour, and Maria is really no exception.  I expect the German to be on the top of her game and advance past Sharapova in three tough sets. 

Make sure to enjoy what is sure to be a great day of tennis on espn3.com.   

The Rome Masters conclude this weekend, and as usual on the men's side, the top three are there. Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal are all in the semifinals, and with Murray out, it's also no surprise that David Ferrer is there as well. The big three are so far ahead of the rest of the tour it's unreal. Going into the semifinals, however, there's significant amount at stake for the big three, and we'll break it down after the break.

Italy is hardly known for its men's tennis, but the hometown fans at the Rome Masters were treated to a great men's match today, as Italian #1 Andreas Seppi stunned top-ranked American John Isner in three tough sets. On paper, the win may not look like a huge upset, as Isner and Seppi are only separated by 20 places in the world rankings. But after Isner jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set, with the struggling Seppi managing to win only three points during that time, it looked as if the ninth-seeded American would cruise to an easy victory. What followed was a dramatic display that proved a match is never over until the final ball is played.

The Internazionali BNL d'Italia, or, as we'll call them, the Rome Masters, began yesterday, but with only a round in the books it's not too late to look at 5 storylines going forward. This is the last time we'll see the top players before Roland Garros, and so this event holds added significance.

1) Djokovic's Blip?

Djokovic was defeated by his fellow countryman Tipsarevic in Madrid. Was that a blip? Or is it a sign that he's not at his best leading into Roland Garros? His loss in Madrid can be explained away with the slippery blue clay, but a loss here, even to Federer or Nadal, would raise serious doubts as to his favorite status come Paris. After his otherworldly 2011, he's clearly back to Earth, and his undisputed number one status is up in the air. In order to get a bit of that air of superiority back, he has to win Rome. For him, the biggest prize is still Roland Garros which he has not won, but Rome is a huge step for him.

2) Nadal's Blues

Nadal, like Djokovic, was infuriated and frustrated by the blue clay, but now he's on his beloved red clay, and this is an opportunity for him to reassert himself as the king of clay. He hasn't won a non Monte Carlo Masters event since 2010, and he's been eclipsed by Djokovic. Now ranked number three, he's coming across as very disgruntled. He could use a win badly here. The only saving grace for him going into Roland Garros is that Djokovic hasn't looked nearly as dominant as last year. 

3) Federer's Questions

There was and still is serious doubt as to whether or not Federer will be fit to play this week. During the Madrid tournament, he was taking anti-inflammatory pills, and is "questionable" for the tournament. He plans to play, but if he's hurt, then it'll be interesting to see howmuch effort he puts into Rome. He certainly doesn't want to stay hurt going into Roland Garros, and if I had to bet, I think you'll see a Federer walkover this week, which is a serious shame.

4) Murray's Problems

Andy Murray narrowly escaped a tight three setter against David Nalbandian. He's been nursing an injury of his own, and without a reliable weapon to go on offense with, he'll continue to struggle on the slow clay. He's certanly above the rest of the field, but against the top three he doesn't look to have much of a chance, especially with the injury. If he can recover and be close to his best at Roland Garros, that's a different story. I just wouldn't expect a big upset to come in Rome.

5) Anyone? Anyone?

Tomas Berdych made a huge run in Madrid, and will anyone else step up and challenge the big four? I'm going to say no. Berdych didn't have to beat one of the top 4, and it's hard to believe that on the more comfortable red clay anyone will be able to beat three of the big four, which would almost certainly have to happen. I think it's very possible, given the circumstances, that a couple players could knock them off separately, but the big four have had an absolute stranglehold on the Masters 1000s, and I don't think that'll change

 As the women travel from Madrid, Spain to Rome, Italy, it is time to preview the Internazionali Bnl D'Italia, or "Rome."  Instead of breaking down the draw quarter-by-quarter, let's examine five storylines worth keeping an eye on throughout the week.

• Can anyone beat Serena Williams right now?  Judging by the way she is playing right now, it is fair to say that the only person who can beat Serena is herself.  She did a great job of keeping her emotions in check in Madrid, where she only received one challenge, which was from No. 6 seed Caroline Wozniacki.  Two of the women who people believe have the best chance to beat Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova, were only able to win four games each in their respective matches against the American in Spain.  As long as an injury occurs, it would not be surprising to see Serena Williams run past the field once again en route to yet another title.

• Can Petra Kvitova turn things around? Coming into 2012, Kvitova was supposed to dominate the WTA Tour and become the dominant No. 1 player that the game had been missing for years.  She ended 2011 in impressive style and followed that up with back-to-back semifinals in Sydney and Melbourne to open the year.  Since that time, she has only reached the Semifinals of one tournament and has yet to play in a Final in 2012.  She is coming off of a second-round loss to Lucie Hradecka, a relatively unknown player, in Madrid.  A perfect time for Kvitova to start putting everything together would be this week in Rome.  A solid performance here should be enough to give her some much-needed confidence heading into the French Open. 

• Can Angelique Kerber establish herself as a legitimate top-5 player?  Ever since her intriguing run to the Semifinals at the 2011 US Open, 24 year-old German Angelique Kerber has been an interesting player to follow.  Now the No. 14 ranked player in the world, Kerber has made a living knocking off some of the world's top players in 2012.  Besides making a couple of semifinal appearances, she has won a title so far this year.  In order for her to become a legitimate contender week in and week out, she is going to need to break through at a top-flight event, like Rome.  It will be interesting to monitor her progress this week as she prepares for the French Open at the end of the month. 

• Can Venus Williams ever really contend again?  Since returning to play after withdrawing from the 2011 US Open with an auto-immune disease, the elder Williams has played some good matches, but has not been able to beat some of the world's top players.  Most people believe this is because her time is over.  If there ever was a chance to show the prove the world wrong, it is this week in Rome.  Even with a tough draw, Venus has the experience and the game to make something happen and prove to everyone else on the tour that she is still here to compete and to win. 

• Will Caroline Wozniacki ever be able to contend on a regular basis again?  Since losing the World No. 1 ranking from Victoria Azarenka, Wozniacki has had a lot of trouble doing much of anything in tournaments that most of the top players play in.  With her ranking slowly falling, she is facing tougher and tougher draws, which obviously works against her.  Unless Caroline can start to turn things around, she will soon be out of the top-10 and will not even be listed as a contender in Major Championships.  As it seems at this moment, Caroline Wozniacki had her chance and let it slip away. 

With all of these storylines in mind, this week of tennis in Rome should be very exciting.  Be sure to tune into espn3.com each morning and afternoon to watch some of the action on the traditional orange clay.  Enjoy!

Federer and Serena rule on the blue clay, Nadal and Djokovic show their fragility, Azarenka and Sharapova take one on the chin. Click "Read More" to get your Weekly Wild Card

Being the most dangerous No. 9 seed in the history of the game, Serena Williams came into the Mutua Madrid Open knowing she needed to play well and instill fear into the rest of the field leading up to the French Open, the year's second Major.  This was exactly what Williams was able to do in 6 matches in Madrid.  Throughout the week in Spain, Williams faced three significant tests.  The first one was in the third round against No. 6 seed Caroline Wozniacki, who beat Williams earlier this year in impressive fashion.  The first set was all Wozniacki.  She was on the top of her game and took the opener 6-1.  However, from then on, Williams found her rhythm and advanced to the quaterfinals by dropping only five games in the last two sets. 

In what many people expected to be the match of the tournament, Williams faced Maria Sharapova in the quarterfinals.  Much to the disappointment of the fans but to the happiness of the American, Williams made the match a routine 6-1 6-3 victory.  Throughout the match, Williams served great, returned great, and did not let Sharapova get into a rhythm.  Sharapova came into this match playing some great tennis, which made this win all the more impressive for the American veteran.  Next up was surprise semifinalist Lucie Hradecka, who was just no match for Williams.  Serena battled through a tough opening set by taking the tiebreak 7-5, and she ran through the second set without losing a game to book a spot in the Final against World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.  In what was a highly-anticipated final, Serena Williams came out firing on all cylinders, especially her serve.  She took the first four games and never looked back.  After completing a 6-1 6-3 victory to win yet another title, Williams lifted in arms up in celebration and looked up at the sky. 

Now that Serena Williams is on top of her game, this week's tournament in Rome seems to be just another formality for the American.  Whether she is able to win this week or not, Serena has to be the favorite for the French Open in Roland Garros, which starts at the end of the month.  When talking about Serena's most formidable challengers, the name Victoria Azarenka has to be the first one that comes to mind.  As bad as she looked against the now No. 6 player in the world earlier today, she is the top-ranked woman and has reached that plateau by playing some impressive tennis.  Maria Sharapova also has to be considered a contender in Rome and at the French Open.  She was looked good as of late and has the power to beat any player, even Williams, if she is playing her best.  In other women's tennis news, it might just be time to say goodbye to Caroline Wozniacki as a top-10 tennis player.  Once she lost her No. 1 ranking to Azarenka, she has not been able to do much of anything in any tournament she has entered.  Her draws are slowly becoming more and more challenging as her ranking dropped, and her time period in which she had the best chnace to win that elusive first Major may have come and gone.

With all this being said, there is much to look forward to as the women travel to Rome and then to the famous clay at Roland Garros.  Even though Serena Williams is definitely the player to beat, she is going to have to earn it, and it will be a lot of fun to watch.  Check back later for a preview of Rome, which starts tomorrow for the women. 

The BLUE CLAY has arrived, and while the men have already started play, the big dogs start play tomorrow and Wednesday, so we thought this would be a good time to preview the first and only Masters 1000 tournament played on BLUE CLAY. Click Read More to find out who will on the BLUE CLAY

The Mutua Madrid Open has been making headlines for months now because of the recently-installed blue clay.  Now that the start of this very important tournament is here, the talk can shift from the color of the clay to the tennis being played on it.  This year's tournament on the Women's side is particularly intriguing.  Victoria Azarenka no longer looks unbeatable, Caroline Wozniacki can barely win a match, Serena Williams looks good, and Venus Williams is on the comeback trail.  These storylines, along with a plethora of other ones, will make the 2012 Mutua Madrid Open a must-see for tennis fans.  Now, we will take a look at the women's draw, quarter-by-quarter. 

The first quarter features the tournament's No. 1 seed, Victoria Azarenka.  While Azarenka is still playing some great tennis, she is no longer unbeatable like she seemed to be at the start of the year.  Nevertheless, she is the definite favorite to advance from this quarter of the draw.  Her first real challenge could come in the Round of 16 against Ana Ivanovic.  Ivanovic has been playing very well lately, and it is fair to say that she has re-joined the group of about 10 women who are serious contenders at all of the big tournaments.  Assuming Vika can advance past Ana and make it to the quarterfinals, she will most likely face either Li Na, Angelique Kerber, or Venus Williams.  All three of these women have a legitimate shot to win the botton half of this quarter.  Kerber has come out of relative obscurity to become a factor in the women's game, Li has shown the ability to beat some of the world's top players, and Venus is one of the best women to every play the game.  If Venus is relatively healthy, expect her to make it to the quarterfinals and challenge Azarenka.  Even with this said, Victoria Azarenka will advance out of this tough quarter of the draw.

The second quarter of the draw features Agnieszka Radwanska and was the home of French veteran Marion Bartoli, who has already bowed out with a Round of 64 defeat.  With Bartoli's loss, Radwanska is the huge favorite to make it out of this group.  The women most likely to challenge her include Dominika Cibulkova and Francesca Schiavone, two veterans who are capable of playing with the world's best.  We also know that Schiavone is very comfortable on clay and that this surface usually brings out the best in the Italian veteran.  When all is said and done in this quarter of the draw, Agnieszka Radwanska will be the last woman standing.

The third quarter of this draw is home to several other big names, including Samantha Stosur, Petra Kvitova, Christina McHale, Vera Zvonareva, and Maria Kirilenko.  While Kvitova would seem like the obvious favorite, she is coming off of a tough defeat to Maira Sharapova in a Final and has not been playing her best so far in 2012.  Neverthless, she is a very dangerous player and has the confidence that she can win every tournament she enters.  Stosur has been up and done recently, but is one of the popular picks to win in Madrid. Zvonareva and Kirilenko, neither of whom are contenders to win this tournament, are both able to catch lightning in a bottle and surprise some people with a few quality wins.  Christina McHale, who comes into Madrid un-seeded, is still looking for her breakthrough tournament.  Sadly enough, there is little reason to believe it will happen in Madrid.  Her second match will most likely be against Stosur, and even if she can get past the Aussie, there are several quality players standing in her way of making a deep run.  I expect Petra Kvitova and her bruising groundstrokes to make it out of this quarter.

The fourth quarter of the women's draw of the Mutua Madrid Open is by far the toughest when just looking at the names. Three of the top-10 seeds, Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki, and Serena Williams, reside in this quarter, along with Jelena Jankovic.  Sharapova is coming into Madrid on fire, having beaten Petra Kvitova in a recent Final and playing like she did in her prime.  Wozniacki, however, is coming into this tournament with very little confidence and little reason to believe she can contend for the title.  Serena Williams, who is a legitimate contender in any tournament she enters, is full of confidence and healthier than she has been in the past few months.  She has looked good in her limited action since the Australian Open and is ready to bring home yet another title.  In a blockbuster quarterfinal match between Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams, the Russian will really take it to Williams and advance in a great match. 

Victoria Azarenka d. Agnieszka Radwanska

Maria Sharapova d. Petra Kvitova

Final:

Maria Sharapova d. Victoria Azarenka

While the Monte Carlo Masters concluded last weekend with a lackluster Nadal-Djokovic final, former top 20 American Sam Querrey took a big step on the comeback trail. Querrey, who has been unable to garner much success at the ATP or Challenger levels this year, finally captured a title on the green clay of the Sarasota Challenger. The sixth-seeded Querrey toughed out four three-set matches during his title run, including tough opposition from a resurgent Brian Baker (more on him later), an in-form Michael Russell, and runner-up Paolo Lorenzi. The victory netted Querrey 100 ranking points, which launched him up 18 places to #80 in the ATP World Tour rankings.