- Sloane Stephens surprised her experienced opponent by winning the first set
- Venus Williams then responded with a bagel in the next set to level in New York
- But Stephens overcame Williams in a hard fought final set to reach the last two
Sloane Stephens has shocked Venus Williams to reach the US Open final with a 6-1, 0-6, 7-5 victory.
Stephens began the match in perfect form, winning the first set 6-1, but Williams responded with a bagel in the second to level the tie and give herself a chance of reaching the final.
But the 24-year-old emerged from a tight final set as the victor, winning 7-5 after a back and forth battle at Flushing Meadows.
Sloane Stephens has reached the US Open final after beating Venus Williams in New York
Williams fires back a forehand as she aims to reach the final at the US Open on Thursday
‘I have no words to describe what I’m feeling, what it took to get here, just the journey I’ve been on… I have no words,’ she said after the match.
Asked about how she has managed her stunning rise, Stephens responded: ‘I have no idea, your guess is as good as mine.
‘When I started my comeback if someone told me I’d make two semis and a Grand Slam final I’d have just passed out. It’s just hard work, that’s it.
And after the hard-fought final set, she explained: ‘It required a lot of fight, a lot of grit. I knew if I stuck with it and hung tough and played my game I’d have a few opportunities, and that’s what I did.’
Stephens managed a comprehensive victory against Williams over the first set
Williams shows her dejection after she surprisingly loses the first set on Thursday
But Stephens struggled with Williams’ response and lost the second set 6-0 in New York
Former Premier League and Sunderland player Jozy Altidore watches on in his native US