US Open had a new champion in Sloane Stephens of America when she defeated another American Madison Keys in the 2017 US Open final. The 24-year-old, Stephens won the match in straight sets 6-3, 6-0. 83rd ranked Stephens who returned from an injury in this tournament defeated 15th seed Madison Keys in the final.
In an all American final at the Arthur Ashe stadium at Flushing Meadows, Stephens blew away her competitor in the final with her powerful stroke play.
Six weeks ago Stephen’s was ranked as low as 957th rank in the world when she had just come back from an 11 month layoff due to a foot injury. Stephens is the fifth unseeded player in the Open Era to win a majors title. Both Stephen and Keys are childhood friends; they shared a long hug after the end of the match. With a combined ranking of 99, this was the lowest for a US Open final since the ranking system began.
Both the players were playing in their maiden Grand Slam final, but Stephens had the last laugh. Stephens said:
“I had surgery in January and if someone had told me then that I would win the US Open, I would have said it was impossible, “Madison is one of my best friends on tour. I wouldn’t have wanted to play anyone else. I told her that I wished it could have been a draw.”
Stephens is the first American from outside the Williams family to win a Grand Slam since Jennifer Capriati who won the Australian Open in 2002.
Earlier in the day, Martin Hingis won her 22nd Grand Slam of her career in the mixed double category along with Jamie Murray. They defeated third seed pair of Hao-Ching Chan and Michael Venus 6-1, 4-6, 10-8.
Rafael Nadal will face Kevin Anderson in the men’s single final on Sunday.