Australia’s Sam Stosur and China’s Zhang Shuai advanced to the women’s doubles final at the 2021 US Open.

New York, United States, September 11, 2021 | Leigh rogers

Thirteen years after her last appearance in the US Open women’s doubles final, Sam Stosur will once again fight for the title.

37-year-old Australian and Chinese Zhang Shuai advanced to the women’s doubles final at this year’s US Open.

The No.14 seeds continued their impressive progress in the draw, scoring a 6-2 7-5 victory over American Desirae Krawczyk and Chile’s Alexa Guarachi in the semi-finals in New York today.

World No.55 Stosur and World No.27 Zhang combined to strike out 26 winners in their 72-minute victory over the No.7 seeds. This is their fifth consecutive victory in this straight-set tournament.

It extends Stosur and Zhang’s winning streak to 10 games in total – and propels the 2019 Australian Open champions into their second team Grand Slam final.

This is the ninth women’s doubles final appearance in Stosur’s rich career – and her first at the US Open since a runner-up in 2008.

“To be here again, to have another chance with Shuai, is just amazing,” said Stosur. “I had a great career and to be in another Grand Slam final in New York is really, really exciting.”

Stosur, who won the 2005 US Open title alongside American Lisa Raymond, becomes only the fourth Australian of the Open era to reach three women’s doubles finals at the US Open.

There is a remarkable 16 years between her first and last appearance in the US Open women’s doubles final, doubling Wendy Turnbull’s previous Australian record of eight years.

US Open Women’s Doubles – Australian Open Era Finalists
Marguerite Court	1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975
Judy Dalton	1970, 1971
Kerry Reid	1978
Wendy turnbull	1978, 1979, nineteen eighty one, 1982, 1984, 1986
Elizabeth smylie	1987
Hana Mandlikova	1989
Rennae stubbs	1995, 2001
Sam stosur	2005, 2008, 2021
Ash barty	2013, 2018, 2019
Casey dellacqua	2013, 2015

To note: Fat = Champions

Stosur and Zhang will face US No11 combination Coco Gauff and Caty McNally in the final.

This is a first Grand Slam final for Gauff, a 17-year-old ranked No.38 in doubles, and McNally, a 19-year-old ranked No.34. However, they enjoyed Grand Slam success as juniors, together winning the US Open women’s doubles title in 2018.

Gauff was a year old when Stosur won her first US Open women’s doubles title, underscoring the Australian’s incredible longevity.

In another US Open action today, Dylan Alcott advanced to the semi-finals of the wheelchair quad singles competition with a complete victory over US wildcard Bryan Barten. Alcott lost only one game, keeping his hopes of winning a Golden Slam.

> READ: Alcott qualifies for US Open semi-finals

However, Briton Andy Lapthorne proved too strong for Australian Heath Davidson in their quarter-final clash. The two-time US Open champion claimed a straight-set victory.

Alcott and Davidson have also teamed up to reserve their spot for the wheelchair quadruple final, where they will face Dutch duo Sam Schroder and Niels Vink in a rematch of last week’s Paralympic gold medal match. .

Australians in action – US Open

THE DAY’S RESULTS
Ladies’ doubles, semi-finals
[14] Sam Stosur (AUS)/ Zhang Shuai (CHN) d [7] Alexa Guarachi (CHI) / Desirae Krawczyk (United States) 6-2 7-5

Single wheelchair quad, quarter-finals
[1] Dylan Alcott (AUS) D [WC] Bryan Barten (United States) 6-0 6-1
Andy Lapthorne (GBR) d Heath Davidson (AUS) 7-5 6-1

Double wheelchair quad, semi-finals
[1] Dylan Alcott (AUS) / Heath Davidson (AUS) d Bryan Barten (USA) / Koji Sugeno (JPN) 6-0 6-4

FUTURE
Ladies’ double, final
[14] Sam Stosur (AUS)/ Zhang Shuai (CHN) v [11] Coco Gauff (United States) / Caty McNally (United States)

Single wheelchair quad, semi-finals
[1] Dylan Alcott (AUS) vs. Koji Sugeno (JPN)

Double wheelchair quad, final
[1] Dylan Alcott (AUS) / Heath Davidson (AUS) v Sam Schroder (NED) / Niels Vink (NED)