Madison Keys had what was probably the best performance of the 2017 US Open so far, defeating CoCo Vandeweghe in the second semifinal without blinking, winning 6-1, 6-2.
US OPEN FINAL! 🙌🏾🇺🇸🎾🎉👏🏾💕 pic.twitter.com/INh11r8GoB
— Pearl (@pearlescent48) September 8, 2017
This earns her a spot in the championship match against Sloane Stephens, who right before Keys’s match won a three-set semifinal battle versus Venus Williams. Stephens owns the victory in the only head-to-head match between herself and Keys, a 2015 two-setter in Miami.
Keys came out firing from both wings Thursday night, winning the first five games while giving up only four points. The game that followed finally felt more like one from a typical tennis match; it went to deuce twice, and, although Keys had a break point, Vandeweghe eked out a hold.
But Keys held to 30 immediately thereafter, completing a 23-minute breadstick.
Vandeweghe held her serve in the first game of Set 2, but then Keys’s dominance resumed. The 22-year-old held to love on an ace up the T, and then fought for a scrappy break. She went on to consolidate with an ace for a 3-1 lead.
Madison Ave keys 🔑 rolling into finals
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) September 8, 2017
Keys broke again for 4-1 before taking a medical timeout to get treatment on her right leg. After returning to the court with her thigh taped, she made the score 5-1. Vandeweghe, with a forehand winner down the line, avoided a second trip to the bakery. But, no matter, Keys won the second set 6-2 with an ace up the T.
.@Madison_Keys has made the @usopen final! pic.twitter.com/uXOj207nYO
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) September 8, 2017
The total match time was 1:06.
