Madison Keys faces Sloane Stephens in the first all-American women’s final at the US Open since 2002. It will be the first Grand Slam title match for both. Keys is 22, Stephens is 24, and they have been close friends for years. “You figure out how to separate your friendship from being on the court,” Keys said. “Obviously, both of us want to win. I think when we come off the court, we’re able to leave what happens there and still have a great friendship off of the court.” Both missed the Australian Open in January because of operations — Keys to her left wrist and Stephens to her left foot — and they were a combined 2-3 at Grand Slam tournaments in 2017 when the US Open started. But they’ve been playing tremendously lately. Keys, a big hitter who relies on tough-to-touch serves and forehands, has won 12 of her last 13 matches; Stephens, whose speedy defense gives opponents fits, has won 14 of her last 16. Despite their long friendship, the Fed Cup team mates have met on the court only once, two years ago in a first round match in Miami where Stephens came away a straight sets winner. Their careers, however, have followed very similar paths, most recently to hospitals and an operating room. No player has been more surprised to find herself in a grand slam final than Stephens, who just six weeks ago was ranked outside the top 950 in the world. Sidelined for almost a year after undergoing foot surgery, Stephens returned at Wimbledon and has been on a tear ever since, knocking off 11th seed Dominika Cibulkova, 30th seed Julia Goerges and 16th seed Anastasija Sevastova and twice US Open champion and ninth seed Venus Williams en route to the final. Keys, who missed the first two months of the season recovering from wrist surgery, is peaking at the right time, picking up steam as she worked her way through the draw, knocking off fourth seed Elina Svitolina and 17th seed Elena Vesnina. One of the biggest hitters in the women’s game, the 22-year-old’s power was on full display in the semi-finals when she blasted CoCo Vandeweghe into submission 6-1, 6-2 in just 66 minutes. While Stephens is fully prepared for a brutal battle, she insists what happens on the court will stay on the court. ”Love her to death,“ declared Stephens. ”She’s one of my closest friends on tour. It’s obviously going to be tough. “It’s not easy playing a friend.”
Highlights US Open 2017, tennis result, women's final: Sloane Stephens defeats Madison Keys to win title
Madison Keys meets Sloane Stephens in the US Open final, with both players looking for their Grand Slam title. Follow our live blog for scores and updates.
 "Highlights US Open 2017, tennis result, women's final: Sloane Stephens defeats Madison Keys to win title")
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We have one final singles’ match left to go in this year’s US Open – Rafael Nadal vs Kevin Anderson.
The match is scheduled for 1.30 am IST. Do tune in tomorrow for the men’s singles final as well.
The moment of the final – this heartwarming hug between two great friends!
Stephens will earn $3,700,000 for winning the US Open, nearly doubling her career prize money entering the tournament ($4,519,709).
On Monday, she will rise to 17 in the WTA rankings.
Grand Slam champions 2017 pic.twitter.com/YZ5553hOMq
— Ilya Ryvlin (@ryvlin) September 9, 2017
Sloane Stephens:
“It’s incredible. If someone told me after surgery that I’d win US Open, I’d say it’s impossible. It’s been an incredible journey. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Madison Keys in the post-match ceremony:
“If there’s someone I had to lose to today, I’m glad it’s her,” Keys says. “If you told me two months ago I’d be holding a finalist trophy at the US Open, I’d be really happy and proud of myself.”
Sloane Stephens wins her first Grand Slam title, routing Madison Keys 6-3, 6-0 in the US Open final.
Stephens joined Kim Clijsters in 2009 as the only unseeded women to take the US Open title in the Open era, which began in 1968.
Absolutely beautiful moment between Stephens and her mom. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/vVOaEnNKDu
— Jeff Donaldson (@jdd_sports) September 9, 2017
Sloane Stephens breaks once again to win her first Grand Slam title!
She defeats Madison Keys 6-3, 6-0.
Stephens saves three break points to hold for 5-0. She is a game away from winning her first Grand Slam title.
Keys sets up three BREAK POINTS but Stephens save all three with aplomb: a backhand winner, then a forehand winner and finally a forehand volley winner to cap the longest rally of the match so far.
Keys steps in on the next point and smashes the ball away for a winner. Deuce.
Stephens hits an amazing serve and comes in to the net to volley it away. It’s advantage for Stephens.
She holds for 5-0 after a netted backhand from Keys.
Very poor game from Keys and she gets broken again on her first double fault of the match. 0-4.
Six weeks ago Sloane Stephens was ranked 957th in the world. She is two games away from US Open title.
Well, no way around it, this is hard to watch. Madison nervy, slightly injured, Sloane solid as a rock, up 6-3, 3-0.
— Lindsay Gibbs (@linzsports) September 9, 2017
First set summary:
Sloane Stephens has won the first set in the US Open women’s final.
Stephens broke No 15 Madison Keys’ serve twice and won the set 6-3. Keys hadn’t lost her serve in either of her two previous matches.
The unseeded Stephens used her strong defensive skills to keep rallies alive, and Keys lost too many of them while making 17 unforced errors. Stephens committed just two.
Stephens wins her 6th game in a row and jumps ahead to 3-0 in the second set.
Keys keeps getting close on #tephens’ serve but then her returns let her down. Up to 23 unforced errors now.
.@SloaneStephens fires a forehand passing shot and breaks Keys to start the 2nd set!#USOpen pic.twitter.com/sDbpVd1pm2
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2017
Two passing winners from Stephens and she breaks to start off the second set. 2-0.
It’s all one-way traffic at the moment. Keys needs to start making her shots to survive in this match.
Take a look at the stats from the opening set. A very clean set of tennis from Stephens, with only two errors.
Sloane isn’t having to do that much, just steadier, more balanced, composed. She takes 1st set from Keys 6-3. #UsOpen17
— Douglas Robson (@dougrobson) September 9, 2017
Stephens breaks again to win the first set 6-3.
Keys, while serving to stay alive in the second set, falls behind 30-40 and it’s SET POINT for Stephens.
Stephens, who hadn’t committed any unforced errors so far, makes two in this game and we are back at deuce.
Gutsy hitting from Keys on the next point and she wins a long rally with an inside-out forehand winner. Advantage for Keys.
Stephens hits deep returns and waiting for an error from Keys. The 15th seed dumps an easy forehand into the net and then overhits her shot on the next point and it’s SET POINT #2 for Stephens. She seals the set this time.
Sloane Stephens needs just 30 minutes to win the first set 6-3 over an erratic Madison Keys.
Sloane playing smart and consistent and is a set away from her first Grand Slam title.
Stephens edges ahead 5-3, a game away from taking the opening set.
At 40-0, Stephens tried to end the point early by hitting a drop shot from the baseline.
Keys chases it down and and gets a short reply from Stephens. She wins the point by easily putting the ball away into the open court.
Service return winner from Keys makes it 40-30 but Stephens manages to hold.
Keys holds for 3-4.
Stephens attacks a Keys second serve and wins the point with a forehand winner down the line.
Keys comes up with a pair of service winners to make it 30-15.
She sprays a forehand wide for 30-all.
Keys comes to net again and wins the point on a volley winner into the open court, then holds when Stephens sends a forehand wide.
An easy hold for the No15 seed, and she needed that.
Have we mentioned that Sloane is undefeated in finals? Because Sloane is undefeated in finals.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) September 9, 2017
4-0, pending a fifth today. #usopen
Stephens consolidates to lead 4-2.
Keys gets to 15-30 on Stephens’ serve but is unable to put pressure on her opponent.
Stephens playing a very composed match so far.
Keys dumps another shot into the net and it’s 4-2.
Unforced errors: Keys 12, Stephens 0.
Stephens break for 3-2.
First BREAK POINTS of the match for Stephens after Keys overhits a backhand down the line.
On the next point, Keys can’t control her forehand and she hands the break to Stephens.
Just too many errors off Keys’ racquet at the moment.
Serena may have given birth last weekend. But - at the risk of oversimplification - we're watching "daughters of the Williams effect" today.
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) September 9, 2017
Love-hold by Stephens to make it 1-1.
Stephens responds with an even quicker hold. A few errors from Keys but Stephens hitting the ball really well early on.
Keys starts off the match with a hold to 15. 1-0.
She loses the first point by dumping a forehand into the net, but follows that up with two great serves – 03mph and 111mph.
Stephens then misses on a backhand and Keys holds for 1-0.
Here we go...
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2017
Good luck, ladies!#USOpen pic.twitter.com/zgqi4GY3MZ
Ready? Play!
Madison Keys to serve first.
The players are out on court and are warming up!
We are just minutes away from live tennis action.
At 83rd in the world rankings, Sloane Stephens would be the fourth-lowest-ranked Grand Slam champion since computer rankings began in 1975.
Evonne Goolagong was unranked when she won the 1977 Australian Open after giving birth to her first daughter seven months earlier.
Kim Clijsters was unranked after coming out of retirement when she won the 2009 US Open.
And Chris O’Neil was ranked 111th when she won the 1978 Australian Open.
There have been some close battles in the past 2 weeks. Watch how @SloaneStephens carved her way through the draw to the #USOpen final! pic.twitter.com/oUjokcwmhP
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2017
No matter which American captures the title on Saturday, it will be the fifth time in the past nine Grand Slam events that a first-time Slam champion is crowned.
The run of new major winners began on the New York hardcourts and includes Italy’s Flavia Pennetta at the 2015 US Open, Germany’s Angelique Kerber at the 2016 Australian Open, Spain’s Garbine Muguruza at the 2016 French Open and Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko at this year’s French Open.
The last American to become a first-time Slam winner was Jennifer Capriati at the 2001 Australian Open.
Head-to-head record:
Sloane Stephens leads Madison Keys 1-0.
At Miami in 2015, Stephens won 6-4, 6-2
It's been a great run for @Madison_Keys as she gets set for the #USOpen women's final. Take a look at how she made her way here! pic.twitter.com/GcjzP9GQTM
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2017
Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens are meeting in the first all-American final at the US Open since the Williams sisters played each other for the title in 2002.
Neither the 15th-seeded Keys nor the unseeded Stephens had ever participated in a Grand Slam title match before Saturday at Flushing Meadows.
Keys is 22; Stephens is 24.
Both are playing the best tennis of their careers after having surgery.
Keys had an operation on her left wrist during the offseason, missed the first two months of 2017, then needed another procedure on that arm in June.
Stephens was sidelined for 11 months because of a stress fracture in her left foot. She had surgery in January and returned to the tour in July.
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