The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)

Stephens and Keys to put friendship to one side

Clash of styles as young US pair recover from injuries to contest New York final

- by Eleanor Crooks

Not being able to play tennis has propelled Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys into an unlikely final showdown at the US Open.

When Serena and Venus Williams were doing battle in the last all-American grand slam final at the Australian Open in January, Keys and Stephens were both recuperati­ng at home.

Stephens had just had foot surgery and would be sidelined for 10 months in total, Keys was recovering from her first wrist operation and would have another only three months ago.

“I think we both just texted each other and said, ‘This really sucks’,” recalled Keys.

They have known either other since they were juniors and have been through the same pressures after being hailed the next great American hope.

Both reached the Australian Open semi-finals aged 19, Stephens in 2013 and Keys two years ago, before discoverin­g the road to the top is full of bumps and bends.

Now one will become the first American woman other than the Williams sisters to win a grand slam singles title in 15 years when they contest the final at Flushing Meadows (9pm GMT).

Keys said: “I think time away is good. You realise how much you love doing this and being on the road and playing tennis. I think that’s Sloane and me right now. I think we’re both just loving our time on court, and I think it’s really showing.

“I was laughing and thinking who would have thought in Australia that Sloane and I would be the finalists at the US Open. It’s really amazing.

“I have known Sloane for a long time, and she’s a close friend of mine. So to be able to play her in both of our first finals is a really special moment, especially with everything that we have gone through this year.”

It will be a clash of styles, between the first-strike tennis of Keys and the athletic prowess of Stephens, who has married attack and defence so brilliantl­y this tournament.

The 24-year-old survived a deciding tie-break in the quarter-finals against Anastasija Sevastova and then came from 4-5 down in the final set to defeat Venus Williams on Thursday.

Stephens, who is playing just her fifth tournament of the year, said: “I’m a real fighter, I have a lot of grit.

“I’m not just going to give it to someone. I’m not just going to let them take it from me. I’m going to make sure I give everything that I have, and I leave everything on the court at all times, no matter what.”

 ?? Picture: AP. ?? Madison Keys is relishing the US Open final tonight against old friend Sloane Stephens.
Picture: AP. Madison Keys is relishing the US Open final tonight against old friend Sloane Stephens.

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