Four-year wait over for Henin, Venus

NEW YORK, Sep 7 (Reuters) Three former champions and a rising star will hold court at the US Open today as Justine Henin meets Venus Williams, and Svetlana Kuznetsova takes on Anna Chakvetadze for a place in the final.

For the first time in four and a half years, world number one Henin and two-time champion Williams will meet across the net, with each bidding for their second grandslam title of the year.

French Open champion Henin and Wimbledon winner Williams are two wins away from their seventh grand-slam title, but on paper, the American has the advantage, having won seven of their eight meetings.

''I think she'll definitely have to play well,'' Williams said.

''Quite obviously I'll have to play well, too. But I'm going to go for it. I feel like I've done it before, know what to do, so I've got to do it.'' Top seed Henin, though, beat Serena Williams in the quarter-finals, and is hoping to become only the second woman, after Martina Hingis in 2001, to beat both Williams sisters in the same grand slam event.

Kuznetsova has lost just one set on her way to the semi-final and has won both of her previous meetings with Chakvetadze, who is in her first grand slam semi-final.

I'm here to do my best and I have all chances to win if I play my game,'' she said.

''This gets you under a little bit of pressure but also your expectation is higher and you know your value more.'' Chakvetadze, at 20 the youngest of the four, has won four titles in 2007 and has not dropped a set here.

''I know she's favourite in this match, so I have nothing to lose and no pressure,'' she said.

Reuters BJR DB1107