This United States Open has been a tournament packed with opportunities for players like Sloane Stephens and Pablo Carreño Busta. With their paths through their draws drained of star power by injuries and upsets, they have capitalized on what they can control — by winning.
On Tuesday afternoon, in back-to-back matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Stephens and Carreño Busta reached the semifinals at the United States Open for the first time.
Stephens, an unseeded, 24-year-old American who has methodically worked her way back from foot surgery at the beginning of the year, survived in the women’s quarterfinals to advance past Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (4).