The American procession in the women’s draw at the US Open continues in the second semi-final when Coco Vandeweghe and Madison Keys do battle for a place in the final. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from around 10:30am (AEST).
With all four women making the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows being American, it marks the most successful tournament in recent memory for the home women.
One of them will win, and for Keys and Vandeweghe, one of the pair will play their first grand slam final in New York.
Both have previously made the semi-final stage at grand slam level, with Vandeweghe getting there in Australia earlier this year, and Keys kicking off 2015 in fine fashion with a semi-final at Melbourne Park.
Seeded outside the top ten though, they have put on strong displays throughout the tournament and with the draw opening up, will face off in a semi-final which is sure to be fast-paced. Both players carry their game plan with a big serve and strong groundstroke game, which could lead to a lot of short points throughout the match.
Vandeweghe in particular, has had to overcome the odds. After a tough opening against Alison Riske, her court movement over the last four rounds has been phenomenal. She beats Ons Jabeur in straight sets, then went past Agnieszka Radwanska in three.
A pair of straight set wins against Lucie Safarova and the world No.1 Karolina Pliskova have followed. The win against Pliskova was unexpected, to say the least with Vandeweghe doing everything right to run out with a scoreline of 7-6, 6-3.
Breaking the Pliskova serve shows she has no problem dealing with big serves, but Keys has a different sort of accuracy generally attached to her serves. It’s shown in their two meetings already this year, with Keys winning both in the last month pretty convincingly.
Keys has had what could have been considered a much easier draw to go through the US Open than her opponent. While she had to get past Elina Vesnina and Elina Svitolina in the fourth round and quarter-finals respectively, both taking three sets, her other three matches have all been straight-forward straight-set victories.
Her win against Kaia Kanepi yesterday was particularly impressive, and her form suggests she is going to be hard to beat over the final two matches of the grand slam.
Prediction
Vandeweghe has proven she can deal with power players, but I just can’t see Keys losing this one. Her serve is fantastic, her weapons too powerful. This is going to be cracking match, and will go the distance regardless.
Keys in three sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this US Open semi-final from around 10:30am (AEST) or at the completion of Venus Williams vs Coco Vandeweghe and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that'll do it here on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017 US Open women's semi-finals as first Sloane Stephens, then Madison Keys booked their spots in the finals. Thanks for joining me across the two matches this morning and into the afternoon. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. I'll be back from 6am (AEST) tomorrow morning for the men's semi-finals as Kevin Anderson faces Pablo Carreno Busta and Rafael Nadal takes on Juan Martin Del Potro. Before then, be sure to check out our live coverage this evening of the AFL and NRL finals! Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Here are the remaining singles matches for the tournament. Men's semi-finals 4pm Saturday (6am Sunday AEST) Kevin Anderson vs Pablo Carreno Busta Followed by Rafael Nadal vs Juan Martin Del Potro Women's final 4pm Saturday (6am Sunday AEST) Madison Keys vs Sloane Stephens Men's final 4pm Sunday (6am Monday AEST) Kevin Anderson/Pablo Carreno Busta vs Rafael Nadal/Juan Martin Del Potro
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that was quite something. Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH, MADISON KEYS ACE! Madison Keys finishes it off with one straight down the T, and in a little over an hour, she has blasted her way through to the US Open final! What a performance! What an effort. She hasn't even been challenged in this match. So, the all-American final will see Madison Keys take on Sloane Stephens. Coco Vandeweghe 1 2 Madison Keys 6 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Keys. The second is out wide and returned out. Match point! Vand 1 2 - 30 Keys 6 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Vandeweghe again looks to attack the net with a slice, and that brings Keys forward as well. She goes for the cold winner on the passing shot, but it's wide. Vand 1 2 - 30 Keys 6 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Vandeweghe returned serve well, got a backhand in, but it sort of sat up in the court and Keys put it away. Vand 1 2 - 15 Keys 6 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Keys with a double fault. Vand 1 2 - 15 Keys 6 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Keys starts this game with a fault. The second is returned nicely by Vandeweghe, who looks to come to the net but can't get the reflex volley away. Vand 1 2 - 0 Keys 6 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Serve down the T from Vandeweghe, a short return and Vandeweghe puts the forehand away through the court. So, she holds but she needs to break twice. Vandeweghe hasn't looked like doing it once, and Keys will come out of the change of ends to serve for the match. Vand 1 2 - Keys 6 5 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Lovely shot back in behind from Keys with Vandeweghe trying to recover from a great return of serve. Vand 1 1 - 40 Keys 6 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Vandeweghe with a serve and volley. Keys got it off the racquet, and Vandeweghe hit a second volley winner, but it would have been out anyway. Vand 1 1 - 40 Keys 6 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Vandeweghe. The second is at the body but returned long on the backhand by Keys. Vand 1 1 - 30 Keys 6 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault on the first serve from Vandeweghe. Keys returns strongly, defends well and then goes for a passing cross court forehand on an advancing Vandeweghe, but puts it into the net. Vand 1 1 - 15 Keys 6 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Vandeweghe with a couple of shots at the net, but she eventually put a volley into the net. Vand 1 1 - 0 Keys 6 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Keys consolidates the double break. Vandeweghe puts a backhand into the net, and in 59 minutes, Keys is now just one game from victory and the final. Vand 1 1 - Keys 6 5 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide serve, a driving forehand through the court and then Keys tries to set the approach shot but hits the net. Vand 1 1 - 30 Keys 6 4 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide serve, forehand to the corner and Vandeweghe puts a ball into the net. Vand 1 1 - 15 Keys 6 4 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Keys with a heavy serve, plenty of deep forehands and Vandeweghe eventually makes the error on a long groundstroke. Vand 1 1 - 15 Keys 6 4 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Keys with a fault. The second is at the body and Vandeweghe sends a backhand wide. Vand 1 1 - 15 Keys 6 4 - 15