Stephens to stay ‘normal’ with friend Keys ahead of clash
PARIS: US Open champion Sloane Stephens said Tuesday that her relationship with good friend Madison Keys will stay ‘normal’ ahead of their French Open semifinal clash at Roland Garros – a repeat of last year’s Flushing Meadows final.
The 10th seed produced a clinical performance to down Russian Daria Kasatkina, the conqueror of world number two Caroline Wozniacki, 6-3, 6-1 on Court Philippe Chatrier in the last eight.
Earlier in the day Keys, the 13th seed, reached the semi-finals for the first time by seeing off Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva 7- 6 (7/5), 6- 4.
Stephens cruised to a 6- 3, 6- 0 victory over Keys last September to win her first Grand Slam title in New York.
“When we get on the court, it’s time to compete. But before that, we are not going to be weird and awkward and make it, like, weird for each other,” said Stephens, who was close to going out in the third round to Camila Giorgi before winning 8- 6 in a deciding set.
“Now I just had to go find her, because I need to tell her some juicy stuff. I just went and searched for her in the training room.
“Yeah, I think everything will be normal. And then when we get on the court, it’s time to compete. It’s go time. Until then, we’re the same girls as always.”
It is the first time that two American women have reached the last four at Roland Garros since 2002, when Serena Williams beat sister Venus in the final, after a semi- final win over Jennifer Capriati.
Stephens, who was ranked 957 just six weeks before her maiden Grand Slam triumph last year after
When we get on the court, it’s time to compete. But before that, we are not going to be weird and awkward and make it, like, weird for each other. Sloane Stephens, US Open champion
a series of injury problems, is now into the semi-finals of a major for the third time.
“To have two Americans in the semi-finals of the French Open, I think, is pretty incredible,” said the 25-year-old.
“That means one American will be in the final of a French Open, which is another amazing thing. All in all, I don’t think anyone can complain.”
Stephens and Kasatkina traded breaks early in the match, before the American produced some ferocious hitting at the end of a marathon eighth game to give herself the chance to serve for the opening set.
She did just that, with the help of a sumptuous backhand drop shot. — AFP