It will be all American women in the US Open semifinals tomorrow. This is the first time this has happened at the US Open since 1981 and the first time at a Major since 1985 (Wimbledon).
HOW THEY GOT THERE:
It started with Sloane Stephens defeating Anastasija Sevastova yesterday in a thrilling three set match. Down a break in the third set it appeared Stephens’ dream of getting to her first US Open semifinals was being squashed; however, the Latvian got tight and her game unraveled. It ended in a tiebreak won by Stephens and she booked the first semifinal spot [6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4)].
The match that always had the highest potential of losing the American player was the one involving Petra Kvitova and Venus Williams. Williams had only defeated the Czech player once in five attempts; yet, Williams is having her best Major season in a long time this year (third Major semifinals this year at 37 years) and she came out focused. Like the first semifinal match, this ended in a tiebreak won by the American in dominant style [6-3, 3-6, 7-6(2)]
SEMIFINAL NUMBER ONE: SLOANE STEPHENS VS. VENUS WILLIAMS (Stephens won their only meeting in 2015).
There was a bit of an undercurrent between the opponents of the third semifinal. Karolina Pliskova needed to get to the final to maintain her number one status and perhaps that added extra tension to the match. Coco Vandeweghe came out focused and got an early break lead but could not hang on to the lead and the first set would end in tiebreak won by the American. The second set was a much easier affair for Vandeweghe and she booked the third semifinal spot with the straight set victory [7-6(4), 6-3].
Perhaps the easiest victory went to Madison Keys. Kaia Kanepi was no match for the power of the American and she was dismissed easily in straight sets [6-3, 6-3]. Keys booked the last semifinal spot.
SEMIFINAL NUMBER TWO: MADISON KEYS VS. COCO VANDEWEGHE (Keys won their two previous encounters earlier this season).
SOURCE OF IMAGES: Bing search
GO USA!!!