Madison Keys will take on compatriot Sloane Stephens for the US Open title after seeing off fellow American CoCo Vandeweghe 6-1, 6-2 in the semi-finals on Thursday. Stephens had reached her first Grand Slam final earlier Thursday with a thrilling 6-1, 0-6, 7-5 win over 37-year-old Venus Williams.
The 15th seeded Keys, who had left wrist surgery for the second time in 10 months after a first-round French Open exit, routed US 20th seed CoCo Vandeweghe 6-1, 6-2 in 66 minutes to complete the first all-American US Open final since Serena Williams beat sister Venus in 2002.
“It still doesn’t feel real. I’m still shaking,” Keys said. “I played pretty well. There’s a lot of things in my head right now so I’m struggling to come up with words. “I knew I had to rise to the occasion. I’m just happy to be in the final.”
The friends and Fed Cup teammates will meet Saturday at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the biggest match of either’s career for a top prize of $3.7 million.“I’ve known her for a long time. She’s one of my closest friends on tour,” Stephens said. “I love her to death. And it’s not easy playing a friend.”
Stephens beat Keys in the second round at Miami in 2015 in their only career meeting. “Sloane is a new person right now,” Keys said. “She’s so excited to be out on the court again. I’m excited we get to play each other in the US Open final.”
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