By Chris Oddo | Saturday, April 11, 2015
Scorching-hot Madison Keys raced raced past Lucie Hradecka in the Charleston semis to set up a final to set up a final with Angelique Kerber.
Photo Source: AP
Red-hot Madison Keys blasted her way into the Family Circle Cup final and ended the dreamy run of qualifier Lucie Hradecka with a 6-1, 6-4 victory on Saturday.
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Based on reaching her second career final, Keys will climb to a career-high No. 17 in the world in next week’s rankings.
The hard-serving American has saved all seven break points she has faced in four matches in Charleston, and has yet to drop more than four games in a set. All week long, the 20-year-old has been producing winners at an astounding rate:
In addition to serving and returning big, Keys more than held her own in baseline exchanges with Hradecka as well. "It's always great when you can get off to a good start, and after that I just kept going with it,” said Keys. “I was happy with how I stayed in the crosscourt rallies—that was definitely my biggest thing, staying in the rally and then changing direction on the right ball, then moving forward and taking time away."
Keys will face Germany’s Angelique Kerber in Sunday’s final. The southpaw saw off defending champion Andrea Petkovic, 6-4, 6-4, to reach her fourteenth career final.
Kerber had lost three in a row to Petkovic prior to today’s victory, and Petkovic had won eleven in a row at Charleston. But Kerber took charge of the match after dropping the first two games. winning eleven of fourteen games to race out to a 6-4, 5-1 lead before a late charge from Petkovic made it close.