New York: For the first time since 1981, the US Open women’s semifinals will be an all-American affair with seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams and three first Slam-title hopefuls in the mix. Venus and Sloane Stephens had booked their berths, Tuesday. They were joined by Coco Vanderweghe and Madison Keyes here Wednesday.
“It’s pretty awesome, this feat,” said Keys after completing the foursome with a 6-3, 6-3 victory Wednesday over Estonian qualifier Kaia Kanepi.
No matter who advances, it will set up the first all-American US Open final since 2002, when Venus lost to younger sister Serena.
Vandeweghe meanwhile eliminated Czech World No.1 Karolina Pliskova 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 before Keys, who is 2-0 against Vandeweghe, shook off nerves to win.
Vandeweghe’s best Slam charge was into this year’s Australian Open semifinals, while Keys made her deepest run to the last four in the 2015 edition of the tournament.
In 1981, Americans Barbara Potter, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and eventual winner Tracy Austin reached the final four.
The latest young US players have looked to Venus, Serena, Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati as role models.
“We wanted to be those same players in a later generation. Now that we’re older, we can put that into words, but we all wanted to be there,” Vandeweghe said after her match.
Venus meanwhile said she was enjoying the situation. “It has been a great two weeks for American tennis, seeing all the American players in the draw and all of them advancing so deep and competing so well,” Venus said. “It’s great to see this resurgence and I hope it can continue.”
Results
Madison Keys bt Kaia Kanepi 6-3, 6-3
Coco Vanderweghe bt Karolina Pliskova 7-6 (7/4), 6-3
agence france-presse