Madison Keys advanced to her third US Open semi-final after defeating Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 6-1, 6-4.
In her second consecutive victory over a top ten opponent, Keys dominated, taking the first set in 39 minutes after building a 5-0 lead, then received little resistance in the second, overpowering Vondrousova from the baseline. She also saved nine break points to clinch victory.
“I just love it here, I love playing here,” she said after booking her spot in the semi-finals.
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“In front of a home crowd you can never feel like you can’t get out of any situation. I always walk on the court and feel right at home.”
When asked by former player Rennae Stubbs, who was conducting the on-court interview, what advice she received from her fiance and coach during the match, Keys momentarily forgot she was talking to millions of fans on live TV.
“To be honest I couldn’t hear shit out here tonight,” Keys laughed.
Stubbs paused for a moment before replying: “We can’t bleep you, Madi.”
Keys added: “I have been really focusing on the serve. It’s funny, Bjorn [Fratangelo, Keys’ fiance] has been wanting me to go after it more so he said if I hit a 121 I get anything I want. I hit a 119 tonight so I was so close.
“No, honestly, it’s just I feel like I’ve just been trying to pick my spots and be really smart with it. I think these courts, for the most part, are kind of taking the ball pretty well. So there is really no immediate need to overdo things.”
Vondrousova’s serve was not a driving force for her as most of her first serves landed in at under 160km/h.
She still seemed bothered by a right elbow injury that she struggled with in her fourth-round victory over Peyton Stearns, which also forced her to withdraw from the women’s doubles event with Barbora Strycova.
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The match was also delayed for about eight minutes in the first game when a spectator needed medical attention in the stands.
Keys was serving at deuce when action was halted. The chair umpire announced to the crowd that first-aid responders had been called. Tournament referee Jake Garner went out to check on the person, who was in the lower-level seats.
During the delay, Keys brought two fresh towels and a bottle of water to where the spectator was.
“Obviously not how you want to start a match, but I feel like in situations like that I can’t really do many things other than offer towels and water,” Keys said. “I mean, it just felt like the right thing to do.”
Eventually, the person was carried out and action resumed. The US Tennis Association said it was determined that the fan had a prior medical condition, and the incident was not heat-related. The fan was taken for further observation on site and safely discharged.
Keys added that she checked in with the doctor afterward and was told the fan was doing much better.