Stephens holds Keys in final

Sloane cruises to quick victory over close pal Madison

NEW YORK - Sloane Stephens' remarkable rise from a world ranking of No 957 a month ago to US Open champion on Saturday began with the slow work of coming back from surgery on her left foot.

After being off tour for 11 months because of her injury, Stephens easily beat her close friend Madison Keys 6-3, 6-0 in the first Grand Slam final for both, becoming only the second unseeded woman to win the tournament in the Open era, which began in 1968.