US Open 2023: Madison Keys downs Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova to tee up Aryna Sabalenka semi-final

Madison Keys reached the last four of the US Open after beating Marketa Vondrousova 6-1 6-4.

The world No. 17 is into her third semi-final at Flushing Meadows after an impressive victory over this year’s Wimbledon champion.

Keys will have to get past Aryna Sabalenka, the incoming world No. 1, on Thursday night to reach the final in New York for the second time in her career.

She has been in strong form this week, beating world No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals, dropping just four games on the way to victory.

Keys operated from deep, while also attacking the net to interrupt her opponent’s rhythm, as she raced through the opening set in 39 minutes.

Although the second set was closer, Keys swatted away six break points before breaking in the ninth game and serving out victory.

Keys was keen to limit the length of rallies and explained her strategy was to play to her strengths on serve.

“I have been really focusing on the serve,” Keys said. “It’s funny, Bjorn [Fratangelo, Keys’ boyfriend and coach] 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, who claimed a stunning title at the All England Club in July as an unseeded player, was conciliatory in defeat.

“I’m always trying to play maybe longer balls and today I felt like I was under so much pressure from the first point,” she said.

“Yeah, there wasn’t so much to do, honestly. It was very tough. Even on my serve, when I put second serve I was under very much pressure.