Keys Cruises, Burdette Battles into AO Wildcard Finals

News

Scores

Rankings

Lucky Letcord Podcast

Shop

Pro Gear

Pickleball

Gear Sale

Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Keys Cruises, Burdette Battles into AO Wildcard Finals

By Erik Gudris

(December 15, 2012) -- In a pair of contrasting semifinals, Mallory Burdette and Madison Keys booked their spots into tomorrow's finals of the Australian Open Wildcard Playoffs being held in Norcross, Georgia.

Keys faced Alexa Glatch in the first women's semifinal of the afternoon. Right from the start, Keys assumed control of the match and with a combination of winners off of her racquet and multiple errors from Glatch, it was Keys who won 12 of the last 13 points to claim a 6-0 first set.

Glatch did earn 0-40 on Keys's service game to open the second set, but the 17-year old fought back to hold serve and kept her momentum going. Glatch managed to get on the board finally, but it was enough as Keys raced away with a 6-0, 6-1 victory to put her back into the finals for a second straight year.

When asked what she needs to do to repeat as champion, Keys said, "I think it’s just serving well, keep doing what I’m doing, and just stay really calm."

Burdette Battles Min; Saves Three Set Points

In an all Georgia natives meeting, Mallory Burdette took on Grace Min in the second semi. Burdette easily won the first set 6-2 and looked poised to close out things in a hurry when she held break points on Min's serve while up 3-1 in the second set.

But Min held on to her serve and started forcing Burdutte into longer rallies. Burdette battled to hold her own serve in a multiple deuce game before she did so to level the set at 4-all. Burdette fought off two set points against her at 4-5 before she eventually grinded her way into a tiebreak. Min held yet another set point late in the breaker, but couldn't convert despite the encouragement of the local fans on hand. Burdette, with a final backhand that Min couldn't return, finally closed out the match 6-2, 7-6(7).

"It’s exciting. I’m looking forward to that matchup," said Burdette about the finals. "Last time I played Madison was over the summer, and I didn’t play as well, but I enjoy playing people who hit the ball really hard, and I love that. I love aggressive tennis, and I think it’s going to be a very exciting match, lots of big shots hit on both sides."

The women's final will start at 1 p.m. EST with the winner receiving a wildcard berth into next month's Australian Open.

(Photo Credit: AFP/Patrick Kovarik)