05:17 AM BST
Keys 6-0, 6-7, 3-2 Sabalenka*
Keys’ first serve is keeping her out of trouble and in the lead as she holds to 15 now. Can she summon the energy to break Sabalenka again?
05:14 AM BST
Keys* 6-0, 6-7, 2-2 Sabalenka
Another routine service hold for Sabalenka, who has a steely look of determination on her face.
05:12 AM BST
Keys 6-0, 6-7, 2-1 Sabalenka*
Much of the crowd has left at the start of the third set. But they are missing Keys respond to the occasion and not give in to the power from Sabalenka.
A backhand winner down the line seals a service hold to 15.
05:08 AM BST
Keys* 6-0, 6-7, 1-1 Sabalenka
Hard to believe Sabalenka was broken five times in six games when you see her serve her way to 40-0. And big 106mph second serve down the T seals a hold to 30.
Looking ominous for Keys. The momentum of this match has shifted.
05:03 AM BST
Third Set: Keys 6-0, 6-7, 1-0 Sabalenka* (*denotes next server)
At the conclusion of the second set Keys called for the physio to look at a hip issue. After an on-court assessment, Keys leaves for further treatment. When Keys returns she has heavy strapping on her left thigh. Let’s see if her movement is restricted.
Couple of errors from Keys, 15-30. She responds with a forehand winner after a poor drop shot from Sabalenka, 30-30. Another forehand error from Keys, break point.
Sabalenka goes on the attack but goes for too much and her backhand is long, deuce. Gutsy hold for Keys completed when Sabalenka nets a backhand.
04:52 AM BST
Keys 6-0, 6-7 Sabalenka – TIEBREAK
Keys backhand into the net, 1-6. Five set points. Keys forehand return into the net and Sabalenka forces a third set, 1-7.
18 unforced errors for Keys prove costly.
04:50 AM BST
Keys 6-0, 6-6 Sabalenka – TIEBREAK
Sabalenka first serve unreturned, 0-1. Keys second serve returned into the net by Sabalenka, 1-1. Keys double fault, 1-2. Keys has to put away a volley but she doesn’t as the ball bounces wide, 1-3. Sabalenka first serve unreturned, 1-4.
Keys forehand wide, 1-5. The crowd falls silent.
04:46 AM BST
Keys 6-0, 6-6 Sabalenka*
Feels like Sabalenka isn’t missing any balls right now. The match has turned dramatically.
Deep Sabalenka forehand return and Keys can’t keep the ball in play, 15-30. Keys forehand into the net, two set points for Sabalenka.
Keys saves the first with an ace. And the second when Sabalenka’s backhand drifts long.
More big serving from Keys and she survives. And it’s tiebreak time.
04:42 AM BST
Keys* 6-0, 5-6 Sabalenka
Ace No 6 from Sabalenka makes it 30-0. Keys forehand return into the net, 40-0. Another ace from Sabalenka and she nows leads and applies heavy pressure on Keys.
An incredible turnaround which has seen her win 13 of the last 16 points. Keys needs to respond quickly otherwise we are looking at a third set.
04:40 AM BST
Keys 6-0, 5-5 Sabalenka*
Sabalenka goes on the attack and Keys’ backhand drifts long, 0-15. Another backhand long from Sabalenka and it’s now 0-30. The crowd tries to get behind the American.
Double fault by Keys, her second of the match, three break points. Sabalenka breaks. What a time to play your best game of the match. Keys nets a backhand and loses her serve to love.
04:36 AM BST
Keys* 6-0, 5-4 Sabalenka
Sabalenka pulls Keys left then right before finishing with a forehand winner, 15-15. Backhand into the net from Keys, 40-15.
Big first serve followed by a backhand winner and Sabalenka holds. All comes down to the next game for Keys.
04:33 AM BST
Keys 6-0, 5-3 Sabalenka*
The equation is simple for Keys. Hold serve twice and she’s into the final.
She starts off with a forehand winner. A precise wide first serve makes it 40-0. But a volley into the net makes it 40-15. She should have made that easily.
Nevertheless, Keys holds when Sabalenka’s backhand return goes long. One game away now…
04:28 AM BST
Keys* 6-0, 4-3 Sabalenka
Love service game for Sabalenka. Much needed to keep her dreams alive.
04:27 AM BST
Keys 6-0, 4-2 Sabalenka*
Is this the game that seals Keys’ place in the final? As we pass the one hour mark, she holds serve when Sabalenka misses with a forehand.
Sabalenka’s support team tries to rally and encourage her. She’s a despondent figure right now.
04:19 AM BST
Keys* 6-0, 3-2 Sabalenka
Sabalenka cannot believe she’s missed another forehand which puts her 15-40 down again.
Wow. Scorching forehand return winner down the line from Keys to break again. That’s simply unplayable tennis.
04:17 AM BST
Keys 6-0, 2-2 Sabalenka*
Better from Sabalenka as she drills a forehand winner into the corner, 15-30. Keys goes long with a backhand down the line, two break points.
Sabalenka goes long with a forehand return to squander the first. Big time hitting from Keys, stepping inside and crushing her 16th winner of the match.
Third break point as Keys miscues a forehand. Sabalenka takes a big swing at Keys’ second serve and the deep forehand rushes Keys into an error.
First break of the match for Sabalenka. Can this be the spark that ignites her?
04:12 AM BST
Keys* 6-0, 2-1 Sabalenka
Sabalenka moves to 40-15 as her serve comes to the fore but a forehand and backhand winner means we go to deuce.
Keys goes right at Sabalenka’s forehand then redirects the ball to her backhand for a winner, break point.
Keys breaks! She fires a backhand at Sabalenka’s feet and the Belarusian’s reply goes into the net.
Unsportsman like code violation for Sabalenka after throwing her racket toward her support box. Seems like she’s unhappy with the racket tension.
04:05 AM BST
Keys 6-0, 1-1 Sabalenka*
First forehand winner of the match from Sabalenka, 0-15. Keys ace, 30-15. Sabalenka berates her box after whipping a forehand into the tramlines, 40-15. She’s at a loss to explain what’s going on.
But Keys remains clear-minded and blasts an ace to win the game.
04:02 AM BST
Second Set: Keys* 6-0, 0-1 Sabalenka (*denotes next server)
Seems like the little break did wonders for Sabalenka as she hits three aces to hold serve to love in around 90 seconds.
How will Keys respond?
03:57 AM BST
Keys 6-0 Sabalenka*
Sabalenka throws her arms out in frustration after Keys moves forward and hits a volley winner, 15-15.
Keys wrongfoots Sabalenka with a forehand winner, her eighth of the match, two set points.
Sabalenka saves the first. But not the second as Sabalenka’s backhand return flies long.
Incredible set of tennis. Sabalenka looks bewildered and unsurprisingly asks to leave the court for a toilet break.
03:52 AM BST
Keys* 5-0 Sabalenka
Sabalenka has no answer to forehand power coming from Keys at the moment. Consistently hitting 80mph+ groundstrokes.
Keys decides to mix things up and hits a low slice, Sabalenka doesn’t move her feet well enough and hits a backhand into the net, two break points.
Keys breaks for the third time! Sabalenka hits a woeful sliced backhand into the tramlines. She gave up on that point.
Keys to serve for the set next.
03:49 AM BST
Keys 4-0 Sabalenka*
After playing lights out tennis for the first three games, Keys faces her first test as Sabalenka earns two break points.
But back-to-back errors from Sabalenka keep Keys in the game. More errors from Sabalenka and Keys consolidates the double break.
03:40 AM BST
Keys* 3-0 Sabalenka
Sabalenka is struggling to her first serves into play and that is allowing Keys to go on the offensive. Two return winners from the American helps her take the game to deuce.
Another double fault from Sabalenka prompts her to change rackets. Break point Keys.
Sabalenka fires a forehand into the tramlines and Keys secures the double break. The world No 2 can’t believe what’s happening at the moment.
03:35 AM BST
Keys 2-0 Sabalenka*
Keys has only been broken twice in the entire tournament and she doesn’t lose her serve here as she holds when Sabalenka slices a defensive backhand into the net.
03:32 AM BST
First Set: Madison Keys* 1-0 Aryna Sabalenka (*denotes next server)
Statement of intent from Keys as she drills a forehand return down the line for a winner, 15-15. There won’t be many rallies tonight. All about who can get the first big hit in.
Keys attacks with her forehand again and finishes at the net with a simple volley, 15-30. Wow, Keys moves around her backhand and whips a forehand winner cross court, two break points.
Sabalenka saves the first with a gutsy second serve ace, the ball swinging away from Keys’ racket. The two players go toe-to-toe with their backhand before Keys nets. Deuce.
Sabalenka backhand error gives Keys another chance at breaking serve. Sabalenka double fault and Keys does get the break.
Aggressive start from Keys gets its reward.
03:23 AM BST
Here we go!
The second semi-final is moments away. The players are on court and warming up. Arthur Ashe stadium is around 60 per cent full.
The spectators needed a break after the previous match.
03:11 AM BST
The winner of this match will play Gauff in the final
03:04 AM BST
US Open betting offers and free bets
Take a look at these free bets and betting offers to use throughout the tournament.
02:47 AM BST
Women’s semi-final
Hello and welcome to coverage of the second women’s semi-final between Madison Keys and Aryna Sabalenka.
The winner of this match will face whoever triumphs in the first semi between Coco Gauf and Karolina Muchova.
Sabalenka has been beaten in the last four in her previous two visits to New York but earlier this year she made her major breakthrough by winning the Australian Open.
She also lost her semi-finals at the French Open and Wimbledon but the Belarusian is proud of her performances at the big events.
“Yeah, I’m super proud of myself and my team that we have been able to adjust to different conditions, different courts,” she said. “We were able to bring this consistency in my game. Yeah, this is something I’m really proud of, and it’s just unbelievable and I’m just super happy right now that I’m being able to do this.”
The two players faced each other at the Wimbledon quarter-final stage with Sabalenka winning convincingly. But Keys believes she has learned lessons from that match which she can take into this showdown.
“I think there is obviously a lot of things that I can take from the match,” she said. “The No 1 thing being she beat me (smiling).
“But I think that there is still going to be similar patterns and tendencies that she has that I can definitely lean into.
“And also, in the second set at Wimbledon, I was up a break and I had chances. I was definitely in the match and had opportunities, so I think even though I lost that match, it wasn’t, like, you know, I wasn’t in the match and I had no idea what I was doing out there.
“So I think there is a lot of positives that I can take out of that match and try to implement.”
