By Chris Oddo | Friday June 17, 2016
Madison Keys came from behind to end the run of 19-year-old Jelena Ostapenko in Birmingham on Friday, rallying from a set and a break down to claim a 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-2 victory. The victory moves Keys to within one win of claiming a spot in the WTA's Top 10 for the first time. She will meet Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro on Saturday's semifinals at Birmingham.
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“I had a bit of a slow start in the first set, but happy to be coming back tomorrow,” Keys said after her 43-winner performance placed her in her second semifinal of 2016.
Ostapenko drew first blood in the pair’s first meeting, breaking for 3-2 in set one when a chip return elicited a netted slice from Keys.
Keys would quickly respond to level at 4-all in set one but it would be Ostapenko who held sway in the tiebreaker. The world No.38 reeled off seven consecutive points thanks to some great serving and loose play from Keys to take it, 7-1.
The Latvian’s momentum continued into set two. She took a 2-0 lead, but Keys would mount a strong rally to reclaim the break and move ahead by taking four straight games for a 4-2 lead. Ostapenko pushed back but Keys stool tall down the stretch in the middle set, converting her third set point with a giant serve down the T that Ostapenko could only sail long.
“I think I kind of took a breath and started to take time away a bit better,” Keys said. “At that point it was either change tactics or be going to the next tournament.”
Keys struck early and often in the decider, and moved ahead by a double-break in the fifth game by striking a meaty forehand return that handcuffed Ostapenko into an error.
Ostapenko, ever feisty, continued to battle, and even managed a pair of break points with Keys serving for the match at 5-2, but the world No. 16 converted on her second match point with a service winner to go through.
Semifinals Complete
There was plenty of other action happening at Birmingham on Friday. Four second-round matches were completed as the quarterfinals were beginning.
Barbora Strycova defeated Heather Watson in straight sets before ousting Tsvetana Pironkova to reach the semis. The Czech will play CoCo Vandeweghe in the last four. Vandeweghe downed Christina McHale in second-round action, before taking out Wickmayer in the quarterfinals in straight sets.
Second-seeded Angelique Kerber finished off her 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Daria Gavrilova but the defending champion saw her run end at the hands of Carla Suarez Navarro. The Spaniard defeated Andrea Petkovic, 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(5) earlier in the day, before taking out Kerber in three tough sets.