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Keys Beats Riske In Late Night Thriller

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

NEW YORK, NY, USA – No.8 seed Madison Keys completed Day 1 of the US Open and kicked off Day 2 all at once as the young American finished a tough first round win over Alison Riske at 1:48AM, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2.

“I’m feeling pretty good. I just looked up, and it’s almost 2AM,” Keys told ESPN’s Pam Shriver after the match before asking the crowd, ‘Who wants to go party?

“My party will probably be a protein shake and then going to sleep, but you guys can go out and celebrate for me!”

Delayed by an opening night that featured singers Phil Collins and Leslie Odom Jr., Keys suffered a slow start against her countrywoman in what was the final first round match of the bottom half of the draw. Fending off break points that would have put her back 2-5, Keys was unable to close the gap aganst Riske, who served out the opening set and promptly broke to start the second.

But Keys become one of the most consistent young talents on tour, becoming the first American to make her Top 10 debut since Serena Williams herself in 1999, and leveled the set – despite a brief medical timeout for a right shoulder injury – before forcing a tie-break.

“I didn’t know I could play such great tennis after 1AM, but it had to be after 1AM, where I started playing a little bit better, so I think that was the key.

“I’m not usually a morning person, but this kind of morning, I am. 6AM, 7AM is tougher.”

Riske was two points from victory late in the sudden death, but serving at 5-4, saw her lead evaporate beneath the pressure of Keys’ power game. With the match leveled, the Aegon Classic champion and Rogers Cup finalist ran away with the decider, clinching a second round encounter with another American, 16-year-old wildcard Kayla Day.

“I’ll do what I normally do, get my media done, try to eat some food, and then probably immediately fall asleep!”

Day is the youngest player in the draw, and has the chance for an even bigger surprise after outlasting another American, Madison Brengle, who was forced to retire from the second set of their match with a right forearm injury. Day was leading 6-2, 4-2.

“I had no idea she was injured,” the wildcard said after securing her first-ever Grand Slam main draw win. “I saw something on her arm before, but I didn’t really pay attention to that. A lot of players have tape.”

Winner of the USTA Girls 18s Championships, Day earned a wildcard into the tournament after a solid summer that began with her reaching the semifinals at junior Wimbledon.

“There were a lot of nerves in the warm-up and first game, but after the first couple of games, I just felt really comfortable out there – happy with that. It’s not always the best way to win, but I was happy with the way I was playing, and I was in control of the match.

All my life, I dreamed about playing here, so I just told myself to go out and enjoy it today, that it would a good experience, no matter the result.”

Training in Calfornia, Day knows Keys well, and looks forward to the chance to play her for a spot in the third round.

“I’ve known Madison a long time, since I was maybe 11 years old. I’ve always looked up to her as the bigger, really good player. We talk when we see each other; she’s has such a powerful game, and I think that’s what makes her so good.”

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News | WTA Tennis English

News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

MELBOURNE, Australia – Venus Williams is through to her first Australian Open semifinal since 2003 without dropping a set after powering past Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-4, 7-6(3).

“It’s wonderful to be here to start the year out with this,” an emotional Venus told the crowd on Rod Laver Arena. “I want to go further! I’m not happy just with this, but I’m just happy to be in the position to go further.”

Venus was made to work for every point by the No.24-seeded Pavlyuchenkova, who was into her first Australian Open quarterfinal and looking for a career-first Grand Slam semifinal appearance.

Pavlyuchenkova punished Venus’ vulnerable second serve throughout the match, and the American found herself trailing down a break twice in both sets. But the experience of the seven-time Grand Slam champion showed in the big moments, and she broke back each time as Pavlyuchenkova faltered.

“I just think I wasn’t fresh enough to really go for the serves,” the Russian explained later in press. “I knew that I had to serve good because she’s very aggressive on the baseline and return. I was kind of putting a bit of pressure on myself on the serve. That’s why the percentage went low.”

Venus stayed aggressive throughout the hour and forty-seven minute affair, hitting 35 winners to Pavlyuchenkova’s 17 and striking 29 unforced errors against 32. She was a force at the net as well, winning 81% of the 16 points finished at the net.

Venus Williams

The victory is Venus’ 50th win at the Australian Open, and, at 36 years old, she becomes the oldest player to reach a Grand Slam semifinal since Martina Navratilova in 1994 Wimbledon.

“I have a lot to give to the game,” Venus said in her post-match press conference. “I feel like I have a lot of great tennis in me. So any time you feel that way, you continue.

“Why not? I have nothing to lose, literally.”

Venus will play the unseeded CoCo Vandeweghe for a spot in the final after the American knocked out No.7 seed Garbiñe Muguruza in straight sets.

“To have that thought that there’s going to be at least one U.S. player in the final is great for American tennis,” Venus said.

“I’m sure she’s going to want to be in her first final. I’m going to want to be in only my second final here. So it’s going to be a well-contested match.”

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Record-Setting Night For Keys

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

NEW YORK, NY, USA – Tennis fans say that the US Open hasn’t really began until a match ends after midnight. In that case, Madison Keys and Alison Riske have inaugurated the year’s last Grand Slam in style, recording the latest finish ever in a women’s match.

“I’m feeling pretty good. I just looked up, and it’s almost 2 a.m.,” Keys joked after the match. “Who wants to go party?

“My party will probably be a protein shake and then going to sleep, but you guys can go out and celebrate for me!”

Earlier in the night, Keys didn’t have much reason to celebrate just yet. Her match was the last one on Arthur Ashe Stadium after a dramatic Opening Ceremony celebration and a men’s match delayed her start time. Riske and Keys took to the court around 11:20 p.m., and shortly afterwards Keys dropped a tight opening set.

But as the clock flew past the midnight mark, Keys’ best tennis came together, rallying to a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 victory. The match ended at 1:48 a.m., the latest finish for a women’s match in US Open recorded history. The previous record was 1:35 a.m., when Samantha Stosur defeated Elena Dementieva in the fourth round back in 2010.

“I didn’t know I could play such great tennis after 1 a.m.,” Keys said. “But it had to be after 1 a.m., where I started playing a little bit better, so I think that was the key.

“I’m not usually a morning person, but this kind of morning, I am. 6 a.m., 7 a.m. is tougher.”

And as for Riske?

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