By Erik Gudris | Monday, January 24, 2022
Madison Keys withstood the heat and reigning Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 6-2 to reach the final four in Melbourne.
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Last year, Madison Keys wondered about her status amid the WTA elite. Now in the first month of 2022 she finds herself in a coveted position in the first major of the year.
Keys, an unseeded player this year at the Australian Open, forced her way past No. 4 seed and reigning Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 6-2.
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After several years of wondering where her tennis was headed, Keys is now on a career best 10 match winning streak and is just two match wins away from her first major singles title.
This is now the fifth major semifinal of Keys’ career and her first since Roland Garros in 2018. She returns to the Australian Open semifinal for the first time since 2015.
Keys, after a difficult 2021 season, has played like a house on fire in the early stages of the 2022 season. In the warmup season leading into Melbourne, she earned her sixth career WTA title in Adelaide.
In this Melbourne quarterfinal, both players entered having never played each other. The contrast between Keys’ power and Krejcikova’s natural all-court game proved an intriguing matchup.
Keys, however, looked stronger early on in the match. After battling past several break points, Keys made her move.
The 26-year-old American broke her opponent’s serve on her fifth break point after Krejcikova sprayed a forehand wide. Soon Keys led 5-2.
Krejcikova, looking weary against the 91-degree heat called for the trainer and the doctor.
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With back-to-back aces, Keys eventually closed out the set 6-3.
The second set was all in Keys’ advantage as she jumped out to a a quick 2-0 lead. Keys managed to take control with several forehand winners as she soon surged out into a 4-2 advantage with three forehand winners.
With her opponent battling the conditions, all Keys needed to do was stay in control of her game. Keys later ripped a forehand winner to seize a 5-2 lead in the second set.
Keys soon enough closed out the 6-3, 6-2 victory to reach the final four in Melbourne.
Keys earned her win behind 27 winners, 11 of which were aces. The American, now ranked World No.51, kept her strong play clean with her winners total outpacing her 21 unforced errors.
The former US Open finalist now awaits the winner of top seed Ash Barty and No. 21 seed Jessica Pegula.