US Open: Madison Keys Beats Wimbledon Champ, Advances to Semis

By BERT HOOVER Sep 07 2023, 02:15 AM EDT

American tennis sensation Madison Keys secured her spot in the US Open semifinals by defeating reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova with a decisive scoreline of 6-1, 6-4, ESPN reports.

Keys' ability to fend off all nine break points she faced during the match made this victory even more impressive.

Keys, who had previously reached the finals of the US Open in 2017, has had her share of early exits in recent tournament editions.

However, in the 2023 competition, she showcased exceptional form and composure. Under the brilliant floodlights of Arthur Ashe Stadium during prime time, she appeared to be in her element.

Reflecting on her performance, Keys shared her insights with reporters, saying, "I think I just find another gear when it comes to Slams.

Part of it is that I put a little bit more pressure on myself, which is good and sometimes bad. But I've just peaked at the right time, I guess. I haven't had too many disappointing exits at Slams."

On the other side of the net, Marketa Vondrousova, seeded at No. 9, faced physical challenges leading up to the match.

Her taxing three-set encounter with American Peyton Stearns in the fourth round resulted in a sore arm, leading to her withdrawal from the doubles competition.

With her firepower diminished, Vondrousova struggled to mount a significant challenge in the quarterfinal encounter against Madison Keys.

Madison Keys' Next Opponent

Madison Keys, a seasoned 28-year-old, will be stepping into her sixth Grand Slam semifinal, where she is set to go head-to-head with Belarusian powerhouse Aryna Sabalenka, who is poised to claim the No. 1 ranking, according to NBC Sports.

Sabalenka, who secured the top ranking earlier in the week, continued her impressive form by reaching her fifth consecutive major semifinal with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 victory over the 23rd seed, Zheng Qinwen of China.

Acknowledging the contrast in playing styles between her recent opponent, Marketa Vondrousova, and Sabalenka, Keys commented, "Almost a completely different match tomorrow. There's a reason she's No. 1 in the world... It's going to be a lot of hard-hitting. Not a lot of long points. Honestly, just going to try to buckle up and get as many balls back as I can."

Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, has been the lone singles player in the tournament to maintain a flawless record without dropping a set.

Moreover, she previously bested Keys in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, making this upcoming showdown even more compelling.

Keys, reminiscing on her past achievements, notably reached the finals of the US Open in 2017, finishing as the runner-up to compatriot Sloane Stephens.

She has also made significant semifinal appearances in the Australian and French Open.

In another intriguing matchup, American Coco Gauff, seeded sixth, will face off against Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in the earlier semifinal on Thursday.

Sabalenka is the player in the draw with a higher ranking than Gauff.

Madison Keys Match With Marketa Vondrousova Pauses as Fan Needs Medical Help

The match between Madison Keys and Marketa Vondrousova at the US Open on Wednesday night ended abruptly, lasting over eight minutes, when a spectator in the crowd required immediate medical attention, per NY Post.

The interruption occurred at a crucial juncture, with the match poised at deuce during the opening game, with Madison Keys amid her service game.

Medical personnel swiftly arrived on the court to assist the distressed fan.

The United States Tennis Association released a statement clarifying the situation, revealing that medical professionals successfully stabilized the fan following the incident.

Importantly, it was determined that the episode was unrelated to heat-related factors.

The USTA further explained that the fan received an on-site medical assessment and was discharged safely.

During this unexpected delay, Madison Keys displayed a compassionate and sportsmanlike gesture by bringing two fresh towels and a bottle of water to the location where the affected spectator was seated.

Reflecting on the incident, Keys expressed, "Obviously not how you want to start a match, but I feel like in situations like that, I can't really do many things other than offer towels and water."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Marketa Vondrousova vs. Madison Keys Highlights | 2023 US Open Quarterfinal - From US Open Tennis Championships