WTA Cincinnati: The Madison Keys band wagon - please don't jump on (yet)!
Madison Keys plays Petra Kvitova in the semifinals of the WTA Tour 1000 tournament in Cincinnati today. Once again, the American shows that she is capable of great things. However, without the necessary consistency.
by Jens Huiber
last edit:
Aug 20, 2022, 12:40 pm
It has picked up speed again, the Madison Keys band car. But anyone who is toying with the idea of jumping on them, yes, of betting on a victory for the now 27-year-old American at the US Open, should exercise caution. Even if two wins against the last two winners of Grand Slam tournaments fire the imagination. Neither Iga Swiatek , champion at Roland Garros 2022, nor Elena Rybakina , reigning Wimbledon champion have seen light against Keys in Cincinnati. The second triumph at the last major event before the US Open after 2019 is within reach for Keys.
But be careful: Petra Kvitova, the opponent in today's semifinals, is feeling herself again, having defeated the number three of the tournament with Ons Jabeur on the way to the semi-finals. And didn't stay long in the quarterfinals with Ajla Tomljanovic. However, in the recent past, Kvitova has lacked exactly what Madison Keys has throughout her career: consistency.
Keys had no chance against Barty in the semifinals of the Australian Open
However, the Czech can at least claim to have won twice with a major, each time at Wimbledon. Keys was close in 2017 at the US Open (final) and the following spring in Roland Garros (semifinals). Until Sloane Stephens of all people, reportedly Keys' best friend on the tour, ended her compatriot's run. And then at the beginning of this season there was also reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open, where the later winner Ashleigh Barty won 6: 1 and 6: 3 quite humorlessly.
And so there are only six titles in Madison Keys' vita, the last one to date was celebrated in Adelaide before the Australian Open 2022. Overall, the odds in Cincinnati are not bad. Because if Keys wins against Kvitova, it's either against Aryna Sabalenka or Caroline Garcia. Sabalenka's game isn't characterized by stability either, and Garcia, despite notable successes in recent weeks (such as against Iga Swiatek in Warsaw), is no longer among the absolute best in the world.