USA PLAY IN A GREAT STATE
I T was an all-American girls’ night out Thursday. Considering the circumstances of the historic evening, nothing could go wrong. As it happened, everything went right.
Venus Williams, one of the old guard, left the court to an ovation at packed Arthur Ashe Stadium after losing a spine-tingler of a three-setter, 6-1, 0-6, 7-5. The rising starlet, Sloane Stephens, 13 years Williams’ junior, applauded with everyone else in a perfect moment of tribute.
Stephens, 24, will play in Saturday’s final against one of her favorite people, fellow American youngster Madison Keys, who had an easy time in her semifinal — a 6-1, 6-2 victory over CoCo Vandeweghe, also from the U.S. Both Stephens and Keys are making their Grand Slam final debuts — perhaps the first of many.
The night’s first women’s semifinal between the old champ, Williams, and the rising star, Stephens, became a three-set classic. The Flushing crowd rooted on Williams, nostalgically pulling for her to get to one last Open final at age 37.
That changed deep into the third set, when Stephens received standing ovation after standing ovation for beautiful play. After the match, Stephens said she hoped a couple of those stirring rallies would make SportsCenter. “Hint, hint,’’ she added. It was 5-5 in the third when Williams was broken for the third time in the set and Stephens finally won over the crowd. She ended a long rally by reaching in for a Williams drop shot and lifting a lob that smacked the baseline for a winner. The crowd rose out of its seats and jumped up again after Stephens moved her surgically repaired feet to dig out another Williams drop shot and angled a sensational winner.
At that moment, Ashe Stadium got to its loudest pitch of the fortnight, Stephens breaking at love, the Flushing fans realizing they were potentially seeing another future American champion not named Williams.
“It really pumped me up,’’ Stephens said.
Stephens can appear effortless, with her groundstrokes hit forcefully and cleanly. She’s got that wholesome, fresh-faced look that makes it seem like you’ve seen her in some toothpaste commercial.
Critics — Chris Evert leading the charge — believe it’s a long time coming for Stephens, who broke onto the scene by beating Serena Williams at age 19 at the 2013 Australian Open. She can be difficult with the press despite a sense of humor and occasional eloquence.
She now is in her first Grand Slam final after reaching one of her lowest points after a stress fracture ruined much of a year. She lost in the first round at Wimbledon, came in ranked 83rd and now she was on the world’s biggest tennis court on the microphone with ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi.
“I have no words to describe what I’m feeling and what I took to get here — I don’t know how I got here,’’ Stephens said. “Just hard work.’’
During the Australian Open, Stephens was on her couch, in a cast, just off surgery. Keys, too, is coming off two winter wrist surgeries.
“Sloane’s a new person right now,’’ Keys said. “I’m glad we’re playing in a U.S. Open final. It’s pretty cool to say.’’
Indeed, another perfect women’s tennis afternoon will occur Saturday for the all-American final.
“She’s my closest friend on the court,’’ Stephens said of the baseline basher from Illinois. “Love her to death.’’
The four American women all did themselves proud, even Vandeweghe, who made her first Open semifinal and should be here again. Williams’ future is unknown, but the other three could be final four mainstays.
“For American tennis, there’s no question mark. The proof is in the pudding,’’ Stephens said.
Twenty years ago, Williams debuted at the Open and made the finals. She has had her best year in some time and now goes from playing tennis to playing aunt. Williams already has bought her own stroller to use for her sister Serena’s new baby girl. Serena is planning to come back on the tour next year, and so is Venus.
“I’ll continue to play tennis,’’ Venus said. “Nothing complicated.’’
Nothing complicated about this night — first time in 32 years the Open’s semifinals featured only American women.
Saturday an American woman not named Williams will be crowned a Grand Slam champion for the first time since 2002, when Jennifer Capriati won the Australian Open.
It will be Stephens or Keys. Take your pick. Either way, it’s America the beautiful.