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Madison Keys reaches the semi-finals for the third time at the US Open
Madison Keys defeats Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets to advance to the semifinals of the US Open.
NEW YORK – American Madison Keys beat defending Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 6-1, 6-4 on Wednesday night to reach the semi-finals of the US Open, saving all nine break points she faced.
Keys, the 2017 US Open finalist, has suffered several early exits at Flushing Meadows in recent years but shone at the 2023 tournament, appearing on primetime home under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Vondrousova, the No. 9 seed, bowed out of her doubles campaign after a three-set test by American Peyton Stearns in the fourth round left her arm sore, leaving her with little firepower in the quarterfinal match.
“I love it here. I love playing here. In front of your fans you can never feel like you can’t get out of any situation,” said Keys, who reached her sixth major semi-final and third at the US Open. (2017, ’18). “I knew I was going to have to keep trying to get into the net, and be aggressive.”
Keys will next face second seed Aryna Sabalenka, who beat China’s Cheng Kenwen in another lopsided performance on Ashe earlier in the day.
“It’s going to take a lot of hard hitting, not a lot of long points,” said Keys, who lost to Sabalenka at Wimbledon last July. “I’m just going to try to buckle up and get as many balls back as I can.”
The other women’s semifinal match will be No. 6 Coco Gauff against No. 10 Karolina Muchova; They won the quarter-finals on Tuesday. The last time two American women reached the semi-finals at the US Open was in 2020 (Serena Williams and Jennifer Brady).
Keys vs. Vondrousova was interrupted for eight minutes in Game 1 when a spectator in the lower level required medical attention. Keys brought two towels and a bottle of water to where the fan is assisted. The US Tennis Association said the incident was not heat-related.
Clearly unfazed by the incident, Keys dominated the match once play resumed, breaking Vondrousova’s serve in the second game and getting another break point with a stunning forehand in the fourth game.
Vondrousova raised her game across the board in the second set, improving her serve dramatically, but was unable to capitalize on any momentum and instead let her lament missed opportunities as she failed to convert five break points in the eighth game alone.
Keys broke in the ninth game and the cheers erupted as she forced Vondrousova into a backhand foul on match point.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.