By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, August 18, 2022
Madison Keys unleashed a nine-game surge surprising world No. 1 Iga Swiatek 6-3, 6-4 for her first career win over a top-ranked player in Cincinnati.
Photo credit: Getty
Four match points slipped from Madison Keys' grip as ghosts of self-doubt were shadowing her in broad daylight again.
Keys could feel her heart racing and the walls closing in.
Kyrgios: Playing it Safe is Too Risky
In one final burst, Keys quieted stress and stunned Iga Swiatek.
World No. 24 Keys surged through nine straight games then survived a late rally out-slugging Swiatek 6-3, 6-4 for her first win over a reigning world No. 1 in Cincinnati.
The 2019 Cincinnati champion Keys will play Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina for a semifinal spot. Rybakina stopped Alison Riske 6-2, 6-4.
"I feel like I played so solid in the first set and then I think her level dropped a little in the second set then at 5-0 I think her level dramatically changed and got a lot better and I got a little bit nervous trying to close it out," Keys told Tennis Channel's Prakash Amritraj afterward. "I'm just so happy to get a win and do it and get into the quarters."
It's a monumental moment for Keys and one of a couple of massive upsets that blew open the draw. Zhang Shuai toppled second-seeded Anett Kontaveit 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Since Swiatek rocketed through a 37-match winning streak collecting six consecutive titles and playing transcendent tennis, she's come back to earth a bit. Alize Cornet knocked the top seed out of the Wimbledon third round and with today's loss Swiatek drops to 4-4 in her last eight matches.
Another concern is the fact Swiatek concedes she's just not feeling any connection to the Wilson US Open ball, used last week in Toronto and this week in Cincinnati. In fact, Swiatek trashed the ball as "horrible" after beating Sloane Stephens.
"I think those balls are horrible, especially after like three games of hard playing," Swiatek said.... "Yeah, I think they are pretty bad. Sorry."
The 2019 Cincinnati champion Keys used the lighter ball and fast court conditions to her strength charging into the quarterfinals for third time.
"This is the first time I played her on a fast court, which I think definitely suits me a little bit better," Keys said. "In the past, I played her at Indian Wells at night and on clay. I definitely think I was able to use the faster court and tha balls to my advantage."
This was a wild rollercoaster ride of a match. Winless in five prior meetings against world No. 1 players, Keys was down 2-3 when she erupted with a series of decisive drives.
Commanding the center of the court, Keys reeled off nine consecutive games building a 6-3, 5-0 lead.
If you dropped into center court from another planet and were informed one of the two women was world No. 1, you probably would have picked Keys based on how cleanly she was cracking the ball off both wings. Keys won four of those nine straight games at love barely giving Swiatek time or space to operate.
The top-seeded Swiatek and Keys have a history and it's been a horror show for the American. Swiatek had swept all four sets they played including crushing Keys 6-1, 6-0 in the Indian Wells quarterfinals last March.
Given her past futility against Swiatek, Keys took the court with a modest goal against the No. 1: Win two games.
"I think it was just trying to back myself and know I can do it," Keys told Tennis Channel's Prakash Amritraj afterward. "I've been in this position before where I'm playing some pretty good tennis I feel pretty solid.
"Honestly I just came in and thought I'm just gonna do my best. I got one game last time I played her. After I got two games I was like, OK I'm fine. The nerves kind of went away."
Then the jitters spiked again down the stretch.
For a set-and-a-half Keys was untouchable and disarmed Swiatek with the depth and pace of her drives.
Five years after her US Open final appearance, Keys can still play point terminator when she's finding the sweet spot.
Keys' explosiveness was on full display as she launched an 82 mph running forehand strike. That jolting shot helped Keys come through a tricky hold to level after four games.
Swiatek answered with an aggressive love hold for 3-2.
Keys cranked a forehand down the line and drew a netted error to earn triple break point. Swiatek saved the first two break points with clean winners but sailed a backhand beyond the baseline on the third. Keys broke with a firm "come on!" for 4-3.
Squandering a 40-love lead in the following game, Keys slid a second serve ace and scalded a short forehand withstanding Swiatek stress to back up the break for 5-3.
Blasting heavy returns deep down the middle, Keys denied Swiatek access to angles and handcuff the top seed. Keys cruised through a love break to seize her first-ever set win over Swiatek in 35 minutes.
Playing bold first-strike tennis, Keys won four straight games—two at love—to close the first set and accelerated to start the second.
Setting her feet and measuring her expansive backswings, Keys cranked another stinging running forehand to break Swiatek for the third time in a row and go up 2-0 in the second set.
An oppressive Keys threw down her second ace for her seventh straight game.
The two-time Roland Garros champion kicked a wide serve to save a break point in the fourth game.
One hour into the match, Keys pulverized an 80 mph second serve rocketing her return down the line for another break point. A disconsolate Swiatek sprayed an error wide as Keys extended her streak to eight games and lead to 4-0.
Trying to make a stand, Swiatek staved off two match points and reflexed a spinning forehand into the corner to stop her nine-game slide and get on the board with her first hold since 3-2.
Swinging more freely, Swiatek unleashed a couple of forehands breaking back at love in the seventh game. Thumping her forehand with more gusto, Swiatek ran through eight of nien points closing to 3-5 and forcing Keys to serve for it again.
Deadlocked at 30-all, a shanked Keys forehand fell in then she stepped in and spun a forehand winner down the line for match point number three about 13 minutes after her prior match point. Swiatek saved it with a backhand return crosscourt.
The 24th-ranked American sailed a backhand as Swiatek was back on serve at 4-5.
Resetting, Keys rapped a running backhand strike down the line then drew an errant forehand for three more match points.
Keys netted a forehand return on the fourth match point. On match point number five, Keys raced up to a net-cord shot and slashed a final forehand down the line wrapping up her first career win over a reigning world No. 1.
Wrapping a tournament towel around her head, Swiatek departed with a wave.