Photo Via Credit Chang W. Lee/The New York Times
Unseeded Sloane Stephens, beat the No. 15-seeded Madison Keys, her ย fellow American competitor, 6-3, 6-0, in just 61 minutes in the U.S. Open final.
The tennis star, who made her return at Wimbledon after a foot surgery and missed 11 months of competitive play, ย quickly ย made a comeback from being ranked ย No. 957 to U.S. Open Champion on Saturday, in a matchup of two first-time Grand Slam finalists.
She broke Keysโ serve in the first set to take a 3-2 lead, capitalizing on Keysโ nervousness. She won the first set on her second chance, when Keys hit a forehand long, and needed three chances to win the match and the title.
When Keys hit a forehand into the net to end it, Stephens put her hand over her mouth as if in disbelief, closed her eyes for an instant, and then joined the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium in celebrating.
โI told her I wish there could have been a draw because I wish we would have both won,โ Stephens said. โMy journeyโs been incredible and I wouldnโt change it for the world.โ
Stephens, 24, and Keys, 22, embraced at the net for several moments. Keys, who had overcome injury problems of her own โ she had two wrist surgeries in the last year โ appeared to be crying as the two friends hugged. Afterward, they sat together and smiled as they waited for the winnerโs and runner-up trophies to be awarded.
โSloane is truly one of my favorite people,โ Keys said on the court after the match. โObviously I didnโt play my best tennis but Sloane was very supportive. If thereโs someone I have to lose to today, Iโm glad itโs her.โ
It was only the seventh time in tennisโ Open Era and second at the U.S. Open that two first-time finalists had played for a Grand Slam title. It also was the 10th time two American women met in the U.S. Open singles final. The last time was in 2002, when Serena Williamsย defeated her sister, Venus Williams.
With the win, Stephens earned $3.7 million, which she was handed following the match.