Madison Keys tops Carla Suarez Navarro to reach U.S. Open semifinals

The last three times that Madison Keys took on Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro, she walked away with a win — but just barely.

All three of their previous matches went to three sets, and were tight the entire way through.

Wednesday night, while only taking two sets, was no different.

Keys survived a tight bout with Suarez Navarro in the U.S. Open quarterfinals at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City on Wednesday, beating her 6-4, 6-3.

The first set was a near-even race the entire way through, with Keys and Suarez Navarro — who knocked off Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals — alternating the first eight games. Neither was able to find a way ahead.

Finally, though, Keys took the final two games — edging out Suarez Navarro in the 10th game — to win the first set 6-4.

The second set started the same way, with both players alternating the first four games. Finally, though, Keys found her grove and was able to separate from Suarez Navarro, taking the next three sets to jump up 5-2.

While she dropped the next game, Keys bounced back and took the last game to win the final set 6-3, and advance to the semifinals — her third semifinal appearance in her last five Major appearances.

“I think the last point was probably the most crucial,” Keys said. “But to break in both sets having solid games there was really important tonight.”

Keys will move on to the semifinals, where she’ll take on No. 20 Naomi Osaka on Thursday. The Osaka, Japan, native flew threw the quarterfinal round in less than an hour, beating Ukranie’s Lesia Tsurenko 6-1, 6-1.

“I’m just looking at the next match,” Keys said on the court after the win. “I still haven’t totally processed this match, so I’m going to try to go do that and then I’ll worry about tomorrow.”

Keys has beaten Osaka all three times they have played, and beat her in three sets in their last match at the 2016 U.S. Open.

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