US Open 2017

Figured we're nearing the end, we have some storylines to poke apart.

Del Potro disrupts a US Open meeting of Federer and Nadal. Bummer.
All American women's semi finals! Not happened in a few years.
The continued sniping at Masha from the other players. Warranted or not, there's definite bad vibes.

I know there are more that I'm missing. What's people thinking?

The Sharapova thing was an interesting side show from a fan's perspective, but clearly the players have little love for her. Not exactly Venus Williams in the locker room. I enjoyed her sniping back at Wozniaki "All I know is I'm in the fourth round and .....I don't know where she is". Ha - take that!

Delpo: very deserving, unfortunate career in that he'd probably have a superior resume were it not for the injuries. Fed: oh well, can't win 'em all, and hard to be in perfect orthopedic health all the time at his age.

Personally, I am thrilled with the performance of the 4 US women, and each semi looks like a toss up. I have a sentimental rooting interest in Venus, and I feel I like Keys is the best player in the world if she ever fully gets it together, which she never has yet and it remains to be seen whether she ever will. I'll be glued to the matches tonight.

I'm kinda hoping for a Sloane versus Coco final. Guess I'm hoping for someone other than a Williams sister to win.

I see. So you don't relate to the storyline of Venus not having won a Slam in 9 years, finally coming back in the twilight of her career from a debilitating medical condition and ascending the heights a final triumphant time, one for the ages?

And why not Keys?

Not particularly. I feel like the Williams sisters have dominated the American Women's Tennis conversation for many, many years and some of these other players have been after thoughts because of it. So I'd like to have someone else take over the conversation.

Why not Keys? The two I chose are the lowest seeds remaining. Sloane is unseeded and Coco is seeded 20th. Madison is 15th. Venus is 9th. So again, it's a story line thing. I'd be okay with Madison versus Sloane, too.

You got your wish, pretty much. Great match Sloan against Venus, and Keys' performance supports my conviction that if she plays her best tennis, she's the best right now. Tremendous display of power and confidence.

I'm excited for the final. Hope Keys' leg is fully healthy.

Seems to me the outcome is on Keys' racket. If she maintains the level of play we saw Thursday night - controlled power, confidence, and few errors -- she wins. If she reverts to her B game, mixing in many frustrating errors, Stevens has the edge.

I've been waiting for Keys to gain control of her game from the moment I first saw her. Is this that day?

No. It was the B or C game. Sloan was poised and perfect.

Based on the score, I'd say C