Thursday 7 September 2017 11:01, UK
Not since 1985 have the United States enjoyed such dominance in a Grand Slam but, when Madison Keys beat Kaia Kanepi under the floodlights on Wednesday night, the set was complete.
The 15th seed swept past Kanepi to thrill the Arthur Ashe Stadium with a 6-3 6-3 victory and give the home fans something they have not seen in more than 30 years.
For all the dominance of the brilliant Williams sisters, it was Wimbledon in 1985 when Chris Evert, Kathy Rinaldi, Zina Garrison and Martina Navratilova gave the States such a clean sweep in a major. And you have to go back another four to 1981 for the same occurrence in New York.
Keys will next face CoCo Vandeweghe who had earlier in the day made it three from three for the US in the quarter-finals, joining compatriots Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens in the last four after they had delivered their pair on Tuesday.
Keys' victory sees her through to the last four of her home slam for the first time and gives her the second major semi-final of her career having lost to Serena Williams in Australia in 2015.
It also completes a remarkable turnaround for the 22-year-old who underwent a second operation on her wrist after a second round exit at the French Open.
"There were definitely a lot of dark moments," said Keys.
"Having all the things that were thrown at me this whole year and having some really low moments. There was a moment where I came off the court and I said, 'I don't know if I'm ever going to win a tennis match again'.
"To have this really feels good and makes me really proud of myself," Keys said. "This means the world to me. If someone told me this is where I would be right before Wimbledon I wouldn't have believed you."
Keys has found her form on the US hard courts, claiming the title in Stanford and reaching the third round in Cincinnati where on both occasions she beat Vandeweghe, her opponent in Thursday's semi-finals.
"I'm really excited and proud of all of us for getting this far," Keys told the crowd in her on-court interview as she completed the home quartet of players who have all had their battles to reach what will be a memorable evening.
"USA all the way. The game being taken away from you really makes you realize how much you love it.
"It takes a lot of the pressure off just because you remember why you do it. It's not to win matches and make people happy. It's just because you truly love being out there.
"In a strange way, it was probably one of the best things to happen to all of us, just to remind us how much we love it and how lucky you are to be able to do this for your job."
Two-time champion Venus Williams is the only one of the four to win a Grand Slam title, but her last victory in New York came in 2001 when she defended the title she won in 2000.
But it's further into the history books since such a landmark was made - Evert and Navratilova were joined by Barbara Potter and eventual champion Tracy Austin in the all-American affair. Arthur Ashe Stadium celebrates its 20th year and will do so with a landmark occasion.
Sky Sports Tennis will have all the action from the US Open covered via our website sky.mnosports.com/tennis with our live blogs and updates throughout the fortnight as the Grand Slam year reaches its climax.
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