For a long time people have been wondering when the Williams sisters would be in the final of a major together as they have wondered when they would be No. 1 and No. 2 in the world. I said years ago that they would get there, and this is a big step toward them reaching that goal. It's an especially a big step for Serena, who hasn't been in the final of major since 1999 when she won the U.S. Open.

	Mal's Picks
	Washington Former ATP Tour pro MaliVai Washington is providing ESPN.com with in-depth analysis during the U.S. Open. Washington, a tennis analyst for ESPN, reached the 1996 Wimbledon final.

This is the first of many Grand Slam championships that we'll see them squaring off together. It's great for the world of tennis that we'll see them together.

Women's final
Serena Williams (10) vs. Venus Williams (4)
I think it's time for Serena to win another major. Venus has won three of the past five Grand Slams that have been played. It's time for Serena to really make that surge to that next level. She's going to have to start winning majors to get to that No. 1 and No. 2 goal.

I love Serena's fight on the court -- and her intensity. She always seems to be thinking and outthinking her opponent. Look for Serena to win it in three.
Edge: Serena

Yevgeny Kafelnikov (7) vs. Lleyton Hewitt (4)
For the second year in a row, Lleyton Hewitt has made the semifinals of the U.S. Open. Last year he lost to a player who is arguably the greatest player of all time -- Pete Sampras. This year Hewitt is the favorite, and it's time for him to really show people whether he can actually make the final of a Grand Slam. And if he can win a Grand Slam.

For the last couple of years, people have questioned if he has the weapons, the power and the size to win majors. It's time for him to prove people wrong and that he has the game.

He's playing a veteran who has been in this position many times -- in the semis of a major. He knows what it takes to succeed in a major. Hewitt might not know that yet because he's never done it before. If Hewitt can control his emotions out there and let his game present itself, he'll win it in four sets.
Edge: Hewitt

Marat Safin (3) vs. Pete Sampras (10)
In the quarterfinals against Andre Agassi, Sampras played the kind of tennis that made him No. 1 for six consecutive years. He hasn't played that type of tennis in 2001. No one questioned if he had it in him; they questioned when he was going to show it. Everyone knows he's not quite the player he was a few years ago. If he can produce that kind of tennis against Safin, he's the heavy favorite against the defending champion.

The match will have more to do with how Sampras plays -- not Safin. But expect that the better Safin plays the better Sampras will play. Against Agassi, Sampras rose to the occasion in a way that we haven't seen since Wimbledon 2000. If he can rise to the occasion two more times, he'll win the U.S. Open.

With that said, I've said all year that he's won his last Grand Slam. Sampras' toughest test will be against Safin in the semifinals.
Edge: Safin