Stephens wins U.S Open
Unseeded Sloane Stephens completed a spectacular return from injury by beating fellow American Madison Keys to win the US Open at Flushing Meadows. Stephens, ranked 83rd, beat 15th seed Keys 6-3 6-0 in the final.
The 24-year-old was ranked as low as 957th six weeks ago, having only returned from 11 months out with a foot injury at Wimbledon. She becomes only the fifth unseeded woman to win a major title in the Open era. Both women were making their Grand Slam final debuts, and their combined ranking of 99 was the lowest for a US Open final since the rankings began.
Close friends since childhood, they shared a long hug at the net after Keys netted a forehand on the third match point. “I had surgery in January and if someone had told me then that I would win the US Open, I would have said it was impossible,” said Stephens.
“This journey has been incredible and I wouldn’t change it for the world. “Madison is one of my best friends on tour. I wouldn’t have wanted to play anyone else. I told her that I wished it could have been a draw.”
Keys, who was playing with her right thigh heavily strapped, said: “Sloane is truly one of my favourite people and to play against her was special. I obviously didn’t play my best tennis and Sloane was very supportive.
“If I’m going to lose to anyone today, I’m glad it’s to her.”
The first American woman from outside the Williams family to win a major singles title since Jennifer Capriati at the 2002 Australian Open, Stephens collected £2.84m in prize money.
The 2-1 series win follows a 3-1 success against South Africa.
Not only does it extend an unbeaten home record against West Indies that dates back to 1988, but also sends England off on their defence of the Ashes on the back of two Test series wins in Joe Root’s first summer as captain.
England play one Twenty20 and five one-day internationals against the Windies to conclude the home summer before travelling to Australia in October. 13 Oct, 1st ODI, Dubai 16 Oct, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi 18 Oct, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi 20 Oct, 4th ODI, Sharjah 23 Oct, 5th ODI, Sharjah 26 Oct, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi 27 Oct, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi 29 Oct, 3rd T20I, Lahore