Stephens ousts Venus to face Keys in Open final

obviously more special. I think this is what every player dreams about.”

US 15th seed Keys, who had left wrist surgery for the second time in 10 months after a first-round French Open exit, routed US 20th seed CoCo Vandeweghe 6-1, 6-2 in 66 minutes to complete the first allAmerican US Open final since Serena Williams beat sister Venus in 2002.

“It still doesn’t feel real. I’m still shaking,” said Keys.

“I played pretty well. There’s a lot of things in my head right now so I’m struggling to come up with words.

“I knew I had to rise to the occasion. I’m just happy to be in the final.”

The friends and Fed Cup teammates will meet today at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the biggest match of either’s career

“I’ve known her for a long time. She’s one of my closest friends on tour,” said Stephens.

Stephens, who was wearing a walking boot in June and ranked 957th in July, has won 14 of her past 16 matches, with semifinal runs at Toronto and Cincinnati.

“I have no words to describe what I’m feeling, what it took to get here, the journey I’ve been on,” said Stephens.

“It’s incredible. I don’t know how I got here. Your guess is as good as mine. Just hard work. That’s it.”

Stephens beat Keys in the second round at Miami in 2015 in their only career meeting.

“Sloane is a new person now,” said Keys.

“She’s so excited to be out on the court again. I’m excited we get to play each other in the US Open final.”

Stephens needed a thrilling break at love in the penultimate game and closing hold of serve to deny twotime right champion Williams her first US Open final in 15 years.

Now 83rd, Stephens is the lowestranked Slam finalist since unranked Justine Henin at the 2010 Australian Open and the lowest at the US Open since unranked Kim Clijsters won the 2009 title.

Stephens, who beat Williams in the first round of the 2015 French Open in their only prior meeting, will jump into the world top 25 next week with the victory.

US ninth seed Williams could not overcome 51 unforced errors that doomed her bid to become the oldest women’s singles finalist in US Open history at age 37.

“It was definitely well competed,” said Williams.

“In the end she won more points than I did and that’s what it added up to.

“Just made so many errors at the end there... I wasn’t playing well. Just wasn’t playing well.” — AFP