Madison Keys was involved in an unusual moment as she scored a point despite briefly stopping playing against Marketa Vondrousova. Keys defeated Vondrousova 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the US Open semi-finals.
The American put in an impressive performance to move a step closer to her second US Open final. And it was a night on Arthur Ashe where everything went her way, including a bizarre point in the first set.ย
At the end of the first set, tied 40-40 with a Vondrousova advantage, the No. 9 seeded Czech player had a back-and-forth with Keys in a close net exchange. After seemingly conceding the point, Keys turned her back and began to walk away, immediately followed by a Vondrousova return.
Standing motionless, Keys failed to react to Vondrousova’s efforts, but it worked to her advantage as the returned ball landed out. The point set the score back to 40-40, and Keys would go on to win the game.ย
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During another scorching day at Flushing Meadows, the match was temporarily halted at a crucial moment, with the score tied at 0-0, 40-40, due to a fan experiencing a medical emergency. Keys displayed sportsmanship, grabbed towels and water bottles from her chair, and rushed over to assist while medical personnel quickly arrived to aid the distressed fan.
The unexpected eight-minute stoppage allowed Keys’ coach and fiancee, Bjorn Fratangelo, to convey a strategic warning to Keys. He advised her about the challenge posed by Marketa Vondrousova’s short, chipped return – a shot that often troubles powerful servers by forcing them closer to the net, where they might feel less comfortable. Vondrousova typically follows this tactic by closing out points with precise passes or volley winners.
Against Vondrousova, Keys showcased her prowess by consistently delivering heavy groundstrokes that found their mark on or near the lines. While Vondrousova may have been hindered by arm or elbow discomfort she had grappled with throughout the tournament, Keys managed to dictate the game by landing 70% of her first serves and keeping rallies brief. She triumphed in 43 out of 70 points that were decided within four shots or fewer.
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Keys acknowledged the challenge presented by Vondrousova, stating, “I knew Marketa was going to be a tricky player. She gets so many balls back and puts you in so many difficult positions. I knew it wasn’t going to be my cleanest match, but I knew I’d have to get to the net, be aggressive, and maintain a forward approach throughout the match.”
Keys is now set to face Aryna Sabalenka in her next match, who secured a dominant 6-4, 6-0 win against the 21st-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova. Sabalenka, the second seed, claimed victory at the Australian Open earlier this year and boasts an impressive 16-1 record in major tournaments in 2023.
“Almost a completely different match tomorrow,” Keys said, referencing the different styles of Vondrousova and Sabalenka. “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.”
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