Congrats to @SloaneStephens as she heads into the QFs! 👏 #USOpen @MBUSA pic.twitter.com/WilkiMzYI7
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2017
The world of tennis has a new darling and Twitter users can’t get enough!
Sloane Stephens, who teamed with Venus Williams and Madison Keys to become the first trio of Black women to make it to the semifinals in U.S. Open history, has taken social media by storm.
And she’s poised to make an even bigger impact Thursday night, Sept. 7, when she takes on two-time U.S. Open champion Venus on the big stage of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Should she pull off the upset, Stephens will secure a spot in her first Grand Slam final.
If she wins, it will be the second time Stephens has beaten a Williams sister. The 24-year-old knocked off Serena 3-6 7-5 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2013.
A win over Venus also would cap a remarkable comeback from a serious foot injury that kept Stephens out of action for 11 months and caused her ranking to drop to No. 957 in the world. It was a long, grueling recovery, but after a slow start to the hardcourt season, Stephens went on a tear. She reached the semifinals in Toronto and Cincinnati prior to arriving at Flushing Meadows, N.Y., and has won 13 of her past 15 matches against top-50 opponents.
Related: The Williams’ Sisters’ Wins
Venus Williams Gains 9th Wimbledon Final, Awaits Muguruza
Venus Williams Looking for 1st French Open Title In 20th Appearance
“Now, having some good results, it’s only as stressful as it needs to be,” Stephens, currently ranked No. 83, told The New York Times.
Stephens’ run, coupled with all the #BlackGirlMagic history-making, has Twitter positively giddy.
Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys.
Three black women in the semifinals for the first time in #USOpen history #BlackGirlMagic pic.twitter.com/jlxvOOCv9m
— Aaron Dodson (@aardodson) September 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/tumcarayol/status/903079220355719168
https://twitter.com/tumcarayol/status/905179664561434624
Hard work pays off!!! Beautiful smile!!!! Well ✅
— Deborah Lao (@Daffodils45) September 5, 2017
If Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens end up playing in the finals I might gotta take my Black ass to NYC to witness history
— yung koala (@kacycarmen) September 7, 2017
