US OPEN 2018, Flushing Meadows, NY, USA, GRAND SLAM (Women)

[GameSetAndMath]

I think now, except possibly for Osaka, none of the girls left in the draw have the warewithall needed to beat Serena.

 

[tossip]

She talks too much and Serena shut her up today and her sister at RG18

 

[Hoergren]

 

[kskate2]

Congrats to Naomi booking her first slam SF and in grand fashion.

 

[tossip]

I am wary of Osaka because she said she wants to play Serena in the final.I hope Sacha is not gasing her up and blowing up her ego...plus her father is from Haiti...just scared

 

[AnonymousFan]

3-3

 

[AnonymousFan]

What a save by csn on SP

 

[golds girl]

I like power but CSN's game is quite beautiful isn't it....in terms of elegance.
Don't know if it'll ever win her a slam in this era of power, but I enjoy it.

 

[AnonymousFan]

Keys takes the first 6-4

 

[golds girl]

Stands are full, but the crowd is dead.
Could be a hangover from yesterday's excitement.
However I'm sure some folks bought this ticket anticipating Keys vs. Sharapova and Djokovic v. Federer

 

[AnonymousFan]

Madison breaks and is up 4-2...

 

[AnonymousFan]

Stands are full, but the crowd is dead.
Could be a hangover from yesterday's excitement.
However I'm sure some folks bought this ticket anticipating Keys vs. Sharapova and Djokovic v. Federer

Does seem really quiet on tv!

 

[AnonymousFan]

Keys serving for it!

 

[kskate2]

I am wary of Osaka because she said she wants to play Serena in the final.I hope Sacha is not gasing her up and blowing up her ego...plus her father is from Haiti...just scared

She can't worry about playing Serena. She has to get past Keys first and has a losing record

 

[britbox]

CSN's Cinderella tournament brought to an end.

 

[kskate2]

But that QF is a nice payday for her. Probably more $$ earned than any of her tournament wins.

 

[tossip]

She can't worry about playing Serena. She has to get past Keys first and has a losing record

just scared that that Sacha has something cooking...

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Match of the day, for me, coming up. Osaka v Sabalenka. Sabalenka the hot player. Osaka playing well for sure. But benefiting from the draw sort of falling apart. Sabalenka definitely now looks like she can win a grand slam. But Osaka looked like that in IW. So I really have no idea who is gonna win this one and that's exciting. Because while I'm definitely more of a Osaka fan and want to see her come through. I won't be surprised or disappointed if Sabalenka comes through. Osaka definitely hasn't been great since IW. But she's been really solid here. And while Sasnoich isn't exactly a great player, double bagelling someone always shows you're playing well and mean business.

Still curious if Suarez Navarro can push Sharapova tonight. But Sabalenka/ Osaka is the match I'm all about today. And honestly, while they could both be upset by Tsurenko/Vondrousova, just because young players have let downs so often, I could totally see whoever wins this match thumping Keys or Sharapova. And will be pulling for whoever wins this match to make the final.

Just gonna toot my own horn here. I was so worried about Osaka because she has really not been great since IW. But she's found the goods here. Sabalenka really the last player she struggled with. Not that Keys wasn't great tonight. And she's made her first grand slam final!

Thrilled for her. Looking forward to a bright career for her. Many grand slams in her future. One of the top 10 players, if not the top 3 players, of the next 10 years in my opinion. All of which I feel much more confident saying now that she's made it this far.

I remember seeing her for the first time a few years ago. I don't think it was here in New York. But it may have been. I know I watched her last year and was very disappointed she didn't get past Kanepi in the third round after upsetting Kerber in the first round. Kerber got her revenge this year at Wimbledon though. Anyways, the first time I saw her I remember thinking. Whoa. She's got a huge future. Big game. Super confident. And then the last 2 years of just sort of meh results. And then IW this year. She beat Sloane on the way and I was like, well that's not surprising. But of course, we've all seen these young ladies who hit the cover off the ball and go on to just fizzle away. They can't control it enough or doubt themselves too much. And I'd love to say I could tell that Osaka was different. But I definitely wasn't sure.

Her previous slam appearance losses are all like, Halep twice, Keys twice, Venus, Konta twice (once in qualifying), Vika, Kerber. She lost to Van Uytvanck last year at the French. And Van Uytvanck has actually been to the French quarters before. So actually not a slouch. But that's literally like her only bad loss. Lost to Cirstea in her first shot at qualifying at Wimbledon in 2015. Then Konta at the US Open qualifying. Then qualified for the 2016 AO and lost to Vika in the third round. Hasn't had to qualify since. One of my favorite things I noticed. She was the woman to beat Ostapenko in the first round of the 2016 French Open. Ostapenko came back and won it last year, beating Halep in the final, who beat Osaka in the third round of the French in 2016. And Osaka lost in the first round at the French last year, to Van Uytvanck.

Just really glad to see her come through and show what she can really do.

A LOT clicked into place when I saw early last week that Sascha Bajin was in her box. I may have learned that at IW this year. But I had forgotten. He knows where to hook his wagon. That's all I got to say. He only left Serena because Vika asked him, and I'm sure agreed to pay him better or well. And then she had her baby and I guess he joined Osaka in the last year or so. Great to see.