In an interesting clash between the two-time US Open finalist, Caroline Wozniacki and the eighth seed, Madison Keys, the American came to win from being down 2-5 in her last match. As for Wozniacki, she had played her best tennis of the year. This time, it was the former world number one who dominated this match and went on to defeat the third best ranked American in just 77 minutes, 6-3, 6-4.
Wozniacki’s serve was the key to her victory as she used it to dictate most of the points, while the American couldn’t reduce the unforced errors that were the result of trying to finish the points quickly, as Wozniacki was returning everything. In the second set, Keys threatened to resurge as she broke the Dane to level things up, but in the end, Wozniacki was the most consistent and managed to take all her chances to get another break that eventually would help her get the win.
Wozniacki, who is unseeded, has gotten her best result in a Grand Slam this year as she lost in the first round of the last three.
A consistent Wozniacki takes the opener against an erratic Keys
Wozniacki started the match with a double fault, but she overcame that bad start with a hold to be up 1-0. Mistakes from Keys gave Wozniacki two break points, but the Dane couldn’t convert any of them as she did two unforced errors to lose the lead. Keys had the chance to hold, but the continuous unforced errors and the outstanding defense of Wozniacki earned the Dane a second break point but once again the American saved it with two amazing winners that eventually would help her to win the game and tie things at 1-1. Just like in her first service game, Wozniacki didn’t face any problem to hold her serve again be up 2-1.
Keys had two game points, but more unforced errors from Keys gave Wozniacki a new break opportunity. A forehand into the net gifted Wozniacki the early break that she would later consolidate with her serve to lead 4-1. Once again, the two-time US Open finalist had two break points but the American saved them to level to deuce and eventually to hold. The Dane who has fond memories of this court was playing flawless tennis as she held her serve to love to lead 5-2. For the first time in the set, Keys managed to hold without facing a break point but the American was still down 3-5.
While serving for the first set, Wozniacki didn’t drop the consistency that had put her a break up. She hit a powerful serve that Keys left in the net to take the first set 6-3 after 38 minutes.
Keys attempts to resurge, but Wozniacki stops her to book her spot in the last eight
It was a great start by the Dane who broke in the first game of the second set after Keys hit a backhand into the net. Wozniacki consolidated the break to lead 2-0 after a missed return from Keys. The American then had her easiest game of serve in the match as she held to love, mostly due Wozniacki’s unforced errors, to get on the scoreboard. That easy hold resurged Keys’ confidence as she went on to have her first chance to break Wozniacki’s serve that she would convert after the American hit a forehand winner to level things at 2-2.
However, the Dane created break opportunities to retrieve the lead and a double fault on break point put Wozniacki ahead again. After that slip in her previous service game, the Dane recovered and consolidated the break with a solid hold to love to lead 4-2. The eighth seed was struggling with her game as she couldn’t reduce her unforced errors which continued to put her service game in danger. After three deuces, Madison Keys held after hitting a forehand down the line winner, but she still was a break down.
The former world number one was playing solid tennis and aside that break earlier in the set, she hadn’t been struggling with her serve. The Dane held without complications to go ahead and be up 5-3. Keys was starting to play better, but it might have been a bit late as she began using her serve as a weapon to throw off her opponent. With the crowd backing the American, she held to put the pressure on Wozniacki who now needed to remain calm and serve the match.
The game started with a complicated rally that Wozniacki couldn’t seem to end, although the Dane eventually won with a forehand winner. The first ace of the match appeared as Wozniacki hit it to be up 30-0. Keys then decided to attack her opponent who now was at the net, Wozniacki saved two balls but Keys went on to win the point after a mistake from the Dane. The short lead would run away as Wozniacki hit a double fault to be now be 30-30. A backhand unforced error gave the Dane a match point. With just one point away from the quarterfinal, Wozniacki hit a well-placed serve that Keys return to the net. In just 77 minutes, Caroline Wozniacki defeated eighth seed, Madison Keys, 6-3, 6-4.
Next for Wozniacki
In her quarterfinal match, Caroline Wozniacki will take on Anastasija Sevastova. who on her way to this match pulled an upset against 13th Johanna Konta. This will be the second meeting between them as they had played each other in 2011 at the Australian Open where the Dane won in straight sets.
