US Open semis an all-American affair
TENNIS:
The United States is guaranteed to be celebrating a title on its home court in Sunday’s women’s final.
The country cannot miss, with two all-American semi-finals to be staged this morning (from 9am) in New York.
It’s the first time since 1981 that US players have filled the final four slots, with seven-time grand slam champion Venus Williams taking on Sloane Stephens and CoCo Vandeweghe meeting Madison Keys at Flushing Meadows.
Chris Evert, Barbara Potter, Martina Navratilova and eventual champion Tracy Austin was the foursome 36 years ago.
The last time there was an all-American women’s final on Arthur Ashe Stadium was in 2002 when Williams lost her to sister Serena.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Keys (pictured) said after her 6-3 6-3 win over Estonian qualifier Kaia Kanepi. “I thought it would be a really special moment. I’m happy I helped out and got my name in there.”
The Pat Cash-coached Vandeweghe beat Karolina Pliskova 7-6 (7-4) 6-3.
“I watched the match last night with Venus and think she said it best,” Vandeweghe said.
“We have to admire Serena and Venus, Lindsay (Davenport), Jennifer (Capriati). They all motivated me to be the next great American coming up.”
JUAN Martin del Potro has ruined the chance of a first-time New York showdown between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
Del Potro stunned Federer 7-5 3-6 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 after Nadal had earlier beaten Russian teen Andrey Rublev in straight sets.