The US Open at Flushing Meadows, New York, is nearing its conclusion and tonight Arthur Ashe stadium hosts two all American semi-finals. With American no.1 Serena Williams recently giving birth to a baby, it's her 37-year-old sister Venus, Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys and Coco Vadeweghe who make up the quartet.
Our man Danny Archer has been in excellent form this summer with his tennis bets and has tips for both matches tonight...
Venus Williams (3/5 Unibet) vs Sloane Stephens (27/20). 12.00pm Arthur Ashe Stadium Eurosport 1
Wimbledon finalist Williams has been in scintillating form in New York so far this fortnight, carrying on her impressive run at SW19. A three-set victory over Kuzmova in R1 was followed by straight-set victories over Dodin and Sakkari in R2 and R3. The number 9 seed has come through two tough three-set battles in the R16 and quarter-final over Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro and the returning Petra Kvitova. The latter match in particular was an absolute humdinger with both player's giving it their all with massive groundstrokes being landed. Williams has also looked to come into the net more this summer and coupled with her big serve, she came through in a tense final-set tiebreak on Arthur Ashe. At 37, Williams is the oldest semi-finalist at a Grand Slam since Martina Navratilova at Wimbledon in 1994. Williams reached the final on her debut at Flushing Meadows in 1997 and went on to win the title in 2000 and 2001.
With a proven track record in Grand Slam semi-finals, Williams starts as a worthy favourite and should prove tough to beat.
However, fellow American Sloane Stephens offers a real threat. Winner of four WTA titles, the Florida native right-hander had foot surgery in January and returned at Wimbledon in July. She was beaten in the first round there but obviously needed game time and took her form to another level after further losses when reaching the semi-finals in the Rogers Cup in Toronto and Cincinnati. Stephens benefitted from a protected ranking entering this year's US Open and she has achieved her best-ever form at a Grand Slam. Despite having a tough enough draw to contend with, the 24-year-old beat 2015 US Open finalist Roberta Vinci in R1, 11th seed Dominika Cibulkova in a cracking three-setter in R2 and then Ashleigh Barty and Julia Georges in R3 and R4 respectively. She battled through a tough three-set match in the quarter-finals against Anastasija Sevastova, who beat Maria Sharapova, to set up a semi-final showdown with Williams.
Stephens has an array of big shots and is a real power hitter. However, there is the possibility that in her first Grand Slam semi-final, the occasion could get to her.
Archer's Ace - Venus to win. I've been mightily impressed with Venus Williams' run to the semi-final. She has the proven big match experience and she can make that pay here. I wouldn't be surprised if that match did go to three sets though so over 22.5 games at Evens with Unibet is also interesting.
Best bet - Venus Williams to win. £20 returns £32 with Unibet.
Madison Keys (13/20 Unibet) vs Coco Vandweghe (6/5). 12.00pm Arthur Ashe Stadium Eurosport 1
For me, this is the pick of the two all American semi-finals. I'm a huge admirer of both players who thoroughly deserve to reach a maiden Grand Slam final.
Madison Keys is the favourite for this one on the back of an impressive run to the semis at Flushing Meadows. A semi-finalist at the Australian Open in 2015, Keys reached R4 of all four Grand Slams in 2016 but struggled with injury towards the back-end of last year. After wrist surgery earlier this year, Keys have been in fine fettle on the hard court circuit. She beat tonight's opponent Vandweweghe in an excellent straight set victory in the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford and at 22, has time on her side to go very far. After straight set victories in the first two rounds in New York, she beat the tricky Elena Vesnina in three sets in R3 and then one of my main fancies, Elina Svitolina, in a superb R4 three set battle. A convincing 6-3 6-3 win over Kaia Kanepi sees the Illinois-born Keys face Vandeweghe. Keys has a powerful all-round game including a potent serve which has served her well in this tournament so far.
I've long been an admirer of Coco Vandweghe and she is really starting to put her game together this year. A semi-finalist at the Australian Open in January, the 25-year-old has also reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in 2015 and 2017. A winner of two WTA titles, Vandweghe lost to Keys in Stanford earlier this summer as alluded to but has come through a really tough draw at Flushing Meadows this week. A tight three-set victory over compatriot Alison Riske in R1 was followed by a more comfortably victory over Tunisian Jabeur in R2. The 20th seed beat 11th seed Aga Radwanska in R3 and Lucie Safarova in R4, before arguably putting in the finest performance of her career with a straight-set defeat of World no.1 Karolina Pliskova in the quarter-finals. That was some victory as she toyed with the Czech to win 7-6 6-3. For me, that's a huge sign of Vandeweghe's improvements, particularly in the mental side of her game. Appointing Pat Cash as coach looks a canny bit of work and their partnership has been a key part of her progression. Vandweghe has a huge game and combines a big serve with powerful groundstrokes. She is not afraid to go for her shots or come into the net and I think she is overpriced here.
Archer's Ace - Coco to win. I think 6/5 with Unibet is a massive price for Vandeweghe and this should also be a titanic tussle so over 22.5 games is also worth backing.
Best bet - Coco Vandweghe to win. £20 returns £44.60 with Unibet.
Danny's Double
Venus Williams vs. Sloane Stephens. Over 22.5 games.
Madison Keys vs. Coco Vandweghe. Over 22.5 games.
£30 returns £118.78 with Unibet. £30 Risk Free
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