Venus Williams will be the sentimental favourite when the 37-year-old takes on Sloane Stephens in one semi-final before Madison Keys battles it out with CoCo Vandeweghe in the other.
It is the first time since Wimbledon 1985 that four American women have featured in a grand slam semi-finals, and the first time since 1981 at the U.S. Open.
“It’s been a great two weeks for American tennis,” said Williams. “Seeing all the American players in the draw and all of them advancing so deep and competing so well.
“All I have known all my life was great American players. So it’s great to see this resurgence, and I hope it can continue.”
A trip to Saturday’s final and perhaps a third U.S. Open crown 16 years after she last hoisted the trophy would cap a renaissance season for the ninth seeded Williams that has also seen her make the finals at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
For everyone else it will be a new pressure-packed experience as they make their maiden appearances in the Flushing Meadows semi-finals.
No player was more surprised to find themselves in the last four than Stephens, who just six weeks ago was ranked outside the top 950 in the world.
Sidelined for almost a year after undergoing foot surgery, Stephens returned at Wimbledon and has been on a tear ever since, knocking off 11th seed Dominika Cibulkova, 30th seed Julia Goerges and 16th seed Anastasija Sevastova en route to the final four.
“I think Venus is just our leader,” said Stephens. “She’s a great player, a great person. Being on Fed Cup teams with her, there is not anything bad you can say about Venus.
“I’m just honoured to be able to play at the same time as her. I’m happy she’s still playing. She means a lot to the game.”
The other semi will see Keys, another player making a surprising run for the title after coming back from injury, going up against Vandeweghe in a battle of big-hitters.
Keys, who missed the first two months of the season recovering from wrist surgery, is peaking at the right time and blazed into the her semi-final with a 69 minute 6-3 6-3 dismantling of Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi.
“It’s really amazing, not only for myself but just for American tennis,” Keys said. “I’m really excited and you know, proud of all of us for getting this far and having it going to be USA all the way.”
Vandeweghe, meanwhile, underlined her contender status by taking down world number one Karolina Pliskova in straight sets.
The two players have met twice already this season with Keys winning both times.
“When I won this event as a junior I always dreamed about being here on the real stage,” Vandeweghe said. “To come together this year, it is a process. I did expect it overnight when I was 16 but now here I am and I couldn’t wish for anything better.
“I watched the match last night with Venus and think she said it best. We have to admire Serena and Venus, Lindsay (Davenport), Jennifer (Capriati). They all motivated me to be the next great American coming up and let’s make it four for four.”
READ MORE: TENNIS TRAINING
