No one in their wildest dreams would have predicted this final. When Sloane Stephens squares off against Madison Keys on Saturday night (Sunday morning AEST) at the Arthur Ashe Stadium for the 2017 US Open Women’s title, it will represent the future of American tennis on the biggest stage.
For more than two decades, it was the Williams sisters – Serena and Venus – that dominated Women’s tennis, bagging 30 Grand Slam titles between them. With Venus falling to Stephens in the semis, the generation shift in US Tennis looks to have taken flight in the right earnest.
Incidentally, both the finalists have had recent injury problems making their journey even more of a fairy-tale. Keys’ progress over the past couple of years was stalled by a wrist injury that forced her to miss the Australian Open in January. Stephens too, had to dodge injuries after a great start to her career, missing nearly 12 months of action.
For whoever wins on Saturday, it is going to be a great advert to next-gen women’s tennis.
The 15th seeded Keys had a good couple of rounds before facing the 17th seed Elena Vesnina who stretched her to three sets. She then overcame tournament favourite Elina Svitolina in the fourth round. Her best performance came in the semis against her best friend CoCo Vandeweghe, demolishing her in straight sets.
The 83rd ranked Stephens had to endure a tougher path to the semis. She had to play three-setters in the second and fourth rounds but her quarter-final against Anastasija Sevastova went to the limit. She needed a third-set tie-break to overcome the 16th seed. In the semis, Stephens went past Venus in a see-saw encounter.
This will be the first all-American US Open final since 2002 and the first All-American Grand Slam final not to involve a Williams sister since Wimbledon in 1990. Whoever wins it will be the first American woman – other than Williams sisters – to win since Lindsay Davenport in 1998.
Stephens is the lowest ranked female to reach the final at Flushing Meadows since Kim Clijsters did so in 2009. Whoever wins will be the youngest winner here since Maria Sharapova won as a 19-year-old in 2006.
This is just the second meeting in all tournaments for this pair with Stephens winning the first in the 2015 Miami Open.
2017 U.S Open Women's Betting Tips
Keys is in cracking form and should start as favourite unless her thigh injury that required her to take a medical break in the semis flares up again. Stephens, once likened to Serena in style and power, has had to play four three-setters in her six matches so far which could influence her strength and stamina.
Odds of $1.44 (William Hill) make her the favourite while Stephens is offered odds of $2.88 (William Hill). With both players looking in good form, the contest promises to go deep. Odds of $2.50 (William Hill) on the match going to three sets looks prudent.
TIP: Total sets OVER 2.5 - $2.50 at William Hill
