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Madison Keys cruises to 3rd career US Open semifinals
Madison Keys defeated Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets to advance to the US Open semifinals.
NEW YORK — American Madison Keys defeated reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 6-1, 6-4 on Wednesday night to reach the US Open semifinals, overcoming all nine break points she faced.
Keys, a 2017 US Open finalist, has suffered a few early exits at Flushing Meadows in recent years but excelled in the 2023 tournament and appeared right at home in prime time under the bright lights. at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Vondrousova, the No. 9 seed, withdrew from his doubles campaign after a three-set test from American Peyton Stearns in the fourth round left him with a sore arm, and he has little firepower left for the quarterfinal affair.
“I just love it here. I love playing here. In front of a crowd you never feel like you can’t get out of any situation,” said Keys, who advanced to her sixth major semifinal and third in the US Open (2017, ’18). “I know I have to keep trying to get to the net, be aggressive.”
Next, Keys will face No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka, who dispatched China’s Zheng Qinwen in another lopsided Ashe performance earlier Wednesday.
“It’s going to be a lot of hard hits, not a lot of long points,” said Keys, who lost to Sabalenka at Wimbledon last July. “Just trying to buckle down and catch as many balls as I can.”
The other women’s semifinal is No. 6 Coco Gauff vs. No. 10 Karolina Muchova; they won their quarterfinals on Tuesday. The last time two American women made it to the US Open semifinals was in 2020 (Serena Williams and Jennifer Brady).
The Keys vs. Vondrousova was interrupted eight minutes into the first match when a spectator on the lower level required medical attention. Keys brought two towels and a bottle of water to where the ventilator was being assisted. The US Tennis Association said the episode had nothing to do with the heat.
Keys was clearly unfazed by the incident and took control when play resumed, breaking Vondrousova at love in the second game and converting another chance on break point with a fine forehand winner in the fourth.
Vondrousova raised her level in the second half of the second set, improving her serve significantly, but she was unable to gain any momentum and was left with untimed opportunities as she failed to convert five break points in the eighth game.
Keys broke her opponent in the ninth game and was delighted when she forced Vondrousova into a backhand error on match point.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.