Peng Shuai of China celebrates her victory over Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in their quarterfinals match at the 2014 U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, September 2, 2014.
Peng Shuai of China celebrates her victory over Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in their quarterfinals match at the 2014 U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, September 2, 2014. REUTERS

Both are virtually surprise picks for reaching the final four of the 2014 US Open. Both women are stepping on the next big platform in after a year of flying under the radar. Alas, only one of them will reach the next step of capturing the last Grand Slam event of 2014.

No. 10 ranked Caroline Wozniacki and Shuai Peng figure in the first semifinal match-up of the 2014 U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows. Shuai is some sort of a late bloomer having emerged in the tournament this year after topping out to a no. 14 ranking in 2011. Her slide down the ranks from that high point was so steep that she revealed that at one point she considered quitting the sport altogether. She was on the verge of tears after her win over Belinda Bencic in the quarterfinals, booking her first ever trip to a Grand Slam semis.

Wozniacki, on the other hand, will be appearing in her fourth semifinal. The Danish player was considered a prodigy moving swiftly through the WTA rankings during her teens but she fell of the top 10 this year and is slowly returning to form. She was also in the headlines this year for a public break-up with the world's number one golf player, Rory McIlroy.

That break-up may have just done the thing to wake up a sleeping tiger. In the match-up in the last 16, Wozniacki was paired with Russian Maria Sharapova. The 24-year-old player showed aggressiveness in attacking the ball not settling for hanging back and waiting for the former number one to pursue the action. She also displayed an impressive defensive form that broke serves and dominated her last two games. Proof of which is the way she dispatched Sara Errani in two sets, 6-0, 6-1 in short 65 minutes.

It would be interesting if Wozniacki will continue with her aggressive strategy and rattle a nervous Peng. The Chinese star showed that composure in the quarterfinals, disposing Bencic in just over an hour. Her solid play will be tested against a defensive gem in Wozniacki but if the Danish star uses her aggressiveness and offense pushing strategy on the other side, then it will be interesting how the Chinese player will react. Composure and ability to react to pressure will be tested as she tries to hurdle a foe of Wozniacki's size.

Watch the live stream of the women's U.S. Open semifinals at the official site, US Open or through ESPN.