The all-American quartet was reduced to a duo on Thursday, as Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys advanced to an improbable United States Open final.
The unseeded Stephens, who four and a half weeks ago was ranked 934th on the women’s tour, barged her way in with an impressive demonstration of nerve and desire to oust Venus Williams, 6-1, 0-6, 7-5, in the first semifinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
In the second, No. 15-seeded Madison Keys played near-flawless tennis to overpower No. 20 CoCo Vandeweghe, 6-1, 6-2, in only 66 minutes to set up the first U.