No revenge for Keys as Stephens cruises into French Open final

There was no revenge for Madison Keys against US Open champion Sloane Stephens, who progressed to the final of the French Open.

Sloane Stephens denied Madison Keys revenge for her US Open defeat as she cruised into the final of the French Open with a routine victory on Thursday.

Keys said prior to their semi-final meeting at Roland Garros that her 6-3 6-0 loss in the decider at Flushing Meadows in September felt like it was "12 years ago".

However, she must have had a sense of deja vu as her compatriot and good friend Stephens made light work of her on Court Philippe Chatrier to set up a final with Simona Halep.

As in New York nine months ago, it was a mistake-riddled performance from Keys, who committed 41 unforced errors to Stephens' 11.

Her consistently errant groundstrokes allowed Stephens to secure a 6-4 6-4 triumph in and hour and 17 minutes, three-time grand slam runner-up Halep now the only thing standing between her and a second major crown.

Stephens struck with the crucial break in the opening set in just the third game as a searing forehand clipped the outside of the line.

Keys attempted to respond three games later as she began picking off the Stephens serve, however, she squandered the two break points that came her way and her profligacy was ultimately punished.

Stephens wrapped up the set with a love hold and broke in the first game of the second as the errors continued to rack up for Keys, who surrendered her serve with a volley into the net.

A comeback never appeared likely and, though Stephens was unable to serve out the match at 5-2 after Keys gifted her a double break, she did so at the second attempt with a precise backhand down the line.

Halep promises to offer a more stern challenge, having won five of her seven meetings with Stephens, but the American will hope the world number one will again falter in the final of a slam, a stage on which she has so far failed to produce her best.

 

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN   Stephens [10] bt Keys [13] 6-4 6-4

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS    Stephens – 9/11 Keys – 25/41

ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS  Stephens – 0/1 Keys – 7/2

BREAK POINTS WON  Stephens – 3/7 Keys – 1/3

FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE   Stephens – 62 Keys - 70

PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE  Stephens – 77/61 Keys – 64/45

TOTAL POINTS  Stephens – 68 Keys – 56