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.
Improbably, 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.
But with Williams on maternity leave, her compatriots have very ably filled the void and all the available slots for Thursday night’s semifinals.