Vandeweghe, Keys Complete All-American Semifinals at US Open

While it took three sets this time, Keys won again, and clearly brings the momentum with her into Thursday’s showdown. She won 25 points to just seven for Brady in the second set. Keys has also combined for 98 winners in her last three matches, proving she controls when the point is going to end most of the time. But as the match against Vandeweghe is the last of the night session it may not prove too problematic. This also marked the first time that Keys would be entering the quarterfinals in her career.

CoCo Vandeweghe smirked because, what else was there to do? Halep lost in the first round to Maria Sharapova, whilst Svitolina fell in the fourth round against Madison Keys.

Venus Williams, seeded ninth, will be playing in the US Open quarterfinals for the 12th time in her career after beating Carla Suárez Navarro 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. Svitolina, on the other hand, recorded just 20 winners, but limited her mistakes with just 26 unforced errors. “I think that’s probably one of the biggest things he’s implemented into my regimen”. “It has been a really great ride”. I was (making mistakes) a lot.

The 37-year-old Williams, who won titles at Flushing Meadows way back in 2000 and 2001, trailed 3-1 in the third set before digging out of the hole with a little help: Kvitova’s eighth double-fault handed over the break that made it 3-all.

One difference this time at the U.S. Open: Vandeweghe switched coaches midway through the season, teaming up in June with 1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash, who was nominated Tuesday for the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The No. 1 player in the world had directly – if politely – insulted her game, and here she was on the podium after her own U.S. Open fourth-round victory, fielding a question about a quote she likely hadn’t heard. “I was confident. I was feeling it”.

This is her sixth trip to a Grand Slam quarterfinal, but first since Wimbledon in 2013. But she’s good enough to do it; she’s already doing it. She returned to the tour at the French Open in May, losing in the second round there and at Wimbledon. “I’m thankful for the opportunity”. I try to move forward as best I can, and I’ve always done that.

Sharapova is expected to jump from 146th to around 100th in the world rankings.

On the men’s side, No. 17 Querrey beat Mischa Zverev 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 to become the first American man to reach the quarterfinals since 2011.

Needless to say, their one meeting doesn’t exactly stand out in Williams’ mind. “Nobody ever gives you a Slam”.

For everyone else it will be a new pressure-packed experience as they make their maiden appearances in the Flushing Meadows semi-finals.

“There were definitely a lot of dark moments”, said Keys. “I don’t have words to describe”.

“In a unusual way, it was probably one of the best things to happen to all of us, just to remind us how much we love it and how lucky you are to be able to do this for your job”.