A possible all-American women’s singles championship finals matchup between Madison Keys and Coco Gauff became a pipe dream that went up in smoke at the US OPEN semifinals on Arthur Ashe.

The No. 17, Madison (Maddie) Keys bit the dust in an exhausting and befuddling loss to World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka. The emotionally wrenching loss stretched over nearly four hours until 1am, with Maddie reaching match point on several occasions and blowing a pair of tie breaks that she should have easily won. (What happened to that vaunted fiancé/coach of hers?)  Even with the crowd solidly behind her and a desperate grab at victory at break point in the deciding set, Keys kept going to that low-angled forehand shot (no doubt at her fiancé-coach’s behest) that just wasn’t ever going to work for her.

Sabalenka’s deadly serves ultimately proved too much for Key’s withering spirits and performance. Even a physio break late in the final hour failed to revive her flailing chances. With all the tie breaks and extended sets, it became difficult for even this veteran reporter to calculate the score, but here it is; 6-0, 6(1)-7(7),6(5)-7(10), Sabalenka.