Close friends to face off in US Open women's final

An all-American US Open semifinal on Thursday night produced two big winners in Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys. Loaded with talent and potential, the two friends have put together their best tennis at the most important time of the year.

Stephens has been living a Cinderella story with her rapid rise back up the ranks after a nearly year-long injury. She split two lopsided sets with seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams before pulling out a thrilling third set.

In the nightcap, Keys steamrolled CoCo Vandeweghe and set herself up to be the favorite with her eye-popping power and impressive control.

What’s most amazing about this final? Start with their injury setbacks as they met up in Charleston last April, off court. Keys was missing matches while dealing with the aftermath of wrist surgery and Stephens was using her extended time off to work for the Tennis Channel.

"I was actually just laughing and thinking who would have thought in Australia that Sloane and I would be the finalists at the US Open?" Keys said. "Neither one of us were playing at the time, both just having surgeries. So to be able to play her in both of our first finals is a really special moment, especially with everything that we have gone through this year."

"I have known her for a long time. She's probably one of my closest friends on tour. Love her to death," Stephens said about Keys. "It's obviously going to be tough. It's not easy playing a friend."

Keys has the heavier groundstrokes, but Stephens has been showing a lot of fight, and foot speed. If Keys plays like she did on Thursday, it may be impossible for Stephens, or anyone, to counter her.  Vandeweghe’s coach Pat Cash called the Keys backhand one of the best shots of the tournament during a changeover interview.

Two big winners will take the court on Saturday afternoon, but there will only be one major title to hand out. It could be only the start of more big titles for both ladies. On thing is certain, American tennis is in great hands.

"I just don't want anyone to ever ask me about the state of American tennis ever again," Stephens said. "It's like I said before on the court, the proof is in the pudding. So we don't ever need, I don't think, to discuss the state of American tennis. I think we are doing great.

"I don't think anyone should ever, at least for not, like, ten years, they shouldn't question it."