![TENNIS US OPEN](./media_16c81727a632f331a2e3d01dfde46a26240b4295d.jpeg?width=750&format=jpeg&optimize=medium)
The US Open is just days away from closing its 2017 edition and already fans are witnessing history take shape.
For the first time in over three decades (33 years to be exact), the final four of the last Grand Slam event of the year will feature four American players: Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens, Venus Williams and CoCo Vandeweghe. While that alone sets up a memorable finish in the event’s history, another game-changing moment involves Keys, Stephens and Williams. For the first time in US Open history, there will be three African-American women to reach the quarterfinals.
Keys and Stephens earned their spots after beating Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina and Germany’s Julia Gorges respectively. Williams, meanwhile, defeated Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro.
“It’s great,” Stephens told The Undefeated about the moment’s significance. “It’s great for American tennis. It’s great for African-American women. I hope that we keep it going. There’s not really much to say other than it’s amazing.”
The barrier-breaking feat spawned tons of reaction on Twitter, adding to an ongoing cultural renaissance.