It has been 32 years since four American women reached the semifinals of the same Grand Slam tournament, and 36 since they managed it at the United States Open.
Remarkably, they have pulled it off this year without the greatest American player of this generation (or any generation): Serena Williams.
“That’s the most surprising thing,” said the former United States Open champion Tracy Austin, who was part of the 1981 quartet here. “That we have four Americans in the semis and yet not one of those is Serena.”
But with Williams on maternity leave and not expected back until next season, her compatriots have filled the void.