Henin, Federer favored on Super Saturday at US Open

NEW YORK, Sep 8 -

World number ones Roger Federer and Justine Henin grab the spotlight Saturday at the US Open, each on the verge of adding another Grand Slam chapter to their tennis legacy.

Swiss top seed Federer faces Russian fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko , whom he has beaten in all nine of their prior matches, in one semi-final while Serbian third seed Novak Djokovic tests Spanish 15th seed David Ferrer in the other.

Federer, seeking his 12th career Grand Slam title and fourth consecutive US Open title, could reach his 10th consecutive Grand Slam final, extending his own record run, and 14th Slam final overall.

"Four in a row, of course it would be kind of special," Federer said. "It would be nice to make it."

Belgian top seed Henin, who eliminated Venus and Serena Williams in her past two matches, plays for her seventh Grand Slam title in a night showdown at Arthur Ashe Stadium against Russian fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova .

Federer, chasing the all-time Slam title record of 14 held by Pete Sampras , has a 7-0 record against Ferrer, who beat Spain 's Rafael Nadal in the round of 16, and a 4-1 mark against Djokovic, losing in August's Montreal final.

Nadal beat Federer in the French Open final and pushed Federer to five sets in the Wimbledon final but lost to Ferrer while Djokovic has set himself up as a challenger to the Slam reign of Federer and Nadal.

Djokovic beat Federer, Nadal and third-ranked Andy Roddick on his way to the Montreal crown, becoming the first man since 1994 to make such a sweep in the same event by downing Federer in the final.

"Since I managed to win against him, even if it was a tight match, I believe more," Djokovic said. "I'm really looking forward to the next challenge, the next match against him.

"I have more confidence and I think I have enough ability to challenge the best players in the world and be one of the favorites to win this tournament."

Henin, who in June won her third consecutive French Open title and fourth Roland Garros crown overall, seeks her second US Open crown after taking the title in 2003. Kuznetsova won her only Slam title at the 2004 US Open.

Henin, the 2004 Australian Open champion, missed a chance to complete a career Slam when she was upset in the semi-finals at Wimbledon by France 's Marion Bartoli .

But after joining Martina Hingis as the only player to beat both Williams sisters in a Slam, Henin could become the only woman to claim two Slams this season with a victory Saturday, this one on hardcourts.

"It would mean a lot to me after my disappointing loss at Wimbledon and the fact I have been dominating the clay for the last few years," Henin said. "I've been playing very well on hardcourts but no major so I hope I can make it."

Henin, who has won six titles in 10 prior events this season, has a 14-2 career record against Kuznetsova even though the Russian won their most recent meeting this year on Berlin clay.

"Venus beat me seven times and me (winning) only once and I won, so it doesn't mean a lot of things," Henin said.