There’s a really good reason I don’t write about sports. For nearly every foul in football, soccer or basketball, I ask: “What just happened?”
But I still like watching most sports. And right now, I am hooked on the U.S. Open.
This year, the American players are dominating. There are three Americans competing in the semifinals, all hoping for a first Grand Slam title.
Even if you aren’t a big tennis fan, or sports fan for that matter, here are three reasons why you should tune in for the U.S. Open semifinals.
1. There are two American women in the semifinals
After nearly two weeks of intense competition in the extreme New York City heat, the women’s singles competition is down to four — and two of them are Americans. On Thursday, Coco Gauff and Madison Keys will fight for spots in the U.S. Open final.
If both American women defeat their competition in the semis, for the first time in more than two decades, the U.S. Open women’s final will feature two Black American players, ABC News reported.
In the semifinals, teenage sensation Guaff, the No. 6 seed, will play Karolína Muchová.
“I’m still in the mindset that I’m in the beginning of the tournament,” Gauff said, per The New York Times. “I just feel so fresh, to be honest. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been tricking myself or maybe when this is over I’m going to hit a wall. But I’m really proud of how I’m able to get through these matches.”
Keys will face one-time Grand Slam winner Aryna Sabalenka. Keys recently lost to Sabalenka during the Wimbledon quarterfinals in July. But she is prepared to compete against the 6-foot Belarusian once again.
“I think I just find another gear when it comes to slams,” Keys told reporters, per ESPN. “Part of it is that I put a little bit more pressure on myself, which is a good thing and also a bad thing sometimes.
“It’s going to be a lot of hard hitting, not a lot of long points,” Keys…
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