By Alberto Amalfi | Saturday, January 24, 2015

 

Madison Keys broke five times in a 6-4, 7-5 win over fourth-seeded Petra Kvitova.

Photo credit: corleve

Madison Keys began this Australian Open with one primary objective—to reach the second week.

The 19-year-old American may want to revise her goal now.

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Closing with command, Keys powered past fourth-seeded Petra Kvitova, 6-4, 7-5, to reach the Australian Open round of 16.

It is Keys' first trip to a Grand Slam fourth round in her 11th major appearance.

Moments after serving out the biggest win of her career, an ecstatic Keys was still trying to calm her hands and make sense of her second career victory over a Top 5-ranked opponent.

"My hands are still shaking. I'm really happy I served that game out," Keys said in her post-match interview. "Right now, I can't even process it."

Rarely does the two-time Wimbledon champion find herself pushed back behind the baseline, but the pace and depth of Keys' drives displaced Kvitova.

Pounding crosscourt shots to create space, Keys hit some timely strikes down the line. She won 10 of 16 points played on Kvitova's serve and broke twice to take the opening set in 36 minutes.

Standing toe-to-toe with Kvitova on the baseline, Keys continued to go for her shots. She broke for a 6-5 lead and said afterward she spent the changeover telling herself to play proactive tennis.

"I was sitting down on the changeover, I just kept saying 'Make your first serve,' " Keys told ESPN2's Mary Joe Fernandez after the match. "I knew if I made my first serve she wasn't going to be attacking me as much and I'd have a better chance."

One of the most explosive players in the game, Keys is working with coach Lindsay Davenport to refine her shot selection. She played with both power and patience in setting up her potent forehand to stretch the Czech.

"Lindsay is amazing," Keys said. "She's helped me out so much; just the discipline [and] when you don't have the [down the line] ball hit it crosscourt."

The victory vaults Keys into an all-Madison match with fellow American Madison Brengle. The 24-year-old Brengle beat compatriot CoCo Vandeweghe, 6-3, 6-2, to reach her first career Grand Slam round of 16.

Keys is pleased one Madison will move forward.

"I don't think Madison and I ever played each other before but we're very excited to play someone with the same name," Keys said. "A Madison will reach the quarterfinal."

The winner of the Keys-Brengle clash will play either No. 6 seed Agnieszka Radwanska or 18th-seeded Venus Williams for a spot in the semifinals.