HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Tennis Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Sloane Stephens dominated a shaky Madison Keys in the U.S. Open final and won 6-3, 6-0 on Saturday to earn her first Grand Slam title, capping a remarkably rapid rise after sitting out 11 months because of foot surgery.
"To share this moment on court is just amazing. I'm so happy that Maddy & I were able to play in the final today." @SloaneStephens#USOpen pic.twitter.com/8OGpRNDMSC
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2017
The 83rd-ranked Stephens is only the second unseeded woman to win the tournament in the Open era, which began in 1968.
This was the first all-American women’s final at Flushing Meadows since 2002, when Serena Williams beat Venus Williams.
It was also only the second time in the Open era that two women in New York were making their Grand Slam final debuts against each other.
Keys, 22, and Stephens, 24, have known each other for years and are close friends. They texted and spoke on the phone early in 2017, when both sat out the Australian Open because of operations — Keys on her left wrist, Stephens on her left foot.
https://twitter.com/usopen/status/906639461924077568
When the match ended, they met at the net for a hug.
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