Keys races past Vandeweghe

 

Originally published on 08/09/17 00:00

The attack-minded 22-year-old was bordering on unplayable as she thrashed her compatriot and friend, Coco Vandeweghe, 6-1 6-2 in just 66 minutes to set up a final showdown with Sloane Stephens on Saturday.

The American, who underwent minor wrist surgery for a second time earlier this year, has the firepower necessary to rock any opponent and she was in the zone for the duration of her brief outing on Arthur Ashe.

Keys smacked 25 winners and committed just nine unforced-errors as she dismissed Vandeweghe for the third time this summer. She was 4-0 ahead after ten minutes and her ferocious groundstrokes were hit with depth and precision.

Vandeweghe battled gamely as she attempted to derail her relentless opponent but her efforts were in vein. The 25-year-old would have liked to have served better – she made 61% of first serves – but she will take solace from her productive fortnight in the city of her birth.

“It still doesn’t feel real, I’m still shaking,” said Keys with a beaming smile after her impressive showing. “I think I played pretty well tonight. I knew I had to rise to the occasion and I’m just happy to be in the final.”

There was a slight concern for the 22-yeard old when she took a medical timeout for a right leg issue after the fifth game in the second set. “I definitely started to feel it [her leg} and I was afraid that if I was stretched too far in a corner, then something more serious could happen. I felt like I needed to get it looked at sooner rather than later,” she added.

Regarding her final meeting with Stephens, Keys said: “Sloane is a new person right now. She really loves being out on the court again and she is so excited to be out here. She is obviously playing really well and I’m really excited we get to play each other in a US Open final.”

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