Keys quells Putintseva for first French Open semifinal berth
PARIS, France - For the third time in her career, Madison Keys
The No.13 seed defeated Yulia Putintseva
The 2017 US Open runner-up has now reached the semifinal stage at three of the four Grand Slams, having first done so at the Australian Open in 2015.
"I'm very happy with today. I obviously was down a break in the first. To be able to get that back and play, I think, a lot better after that was really great," Keys said after the match.
"I'm definitely liking the clay a little bit more now that I have made a semifinal here. I think today is a perfect example of what I have been trying to do, and I think it showed today. There were times when I had to go back and hit a higher ball, back where maybe before I would have tried to hit a line-drive winner.
"Moments like that, and especially in matches like today, really show me that I'm good at playing on clay, but I can also be aggressive and still play my game."
Keys needed to hold off a spirited effort from the World No.98, who came into the match holding the lone previous French Open quarterfinal appearance, as well as the win in the lone head-to-head meeting, between the two.
The 2016 Roland Garros quarterfinalist led by a break in the first set, but was unable to serve out the opener in the 10th game before Keys snatched it in a tiebreak.
As the match wore on, the World No.13 never faced a break point on her own serve in the second set, and delivered the deciding break of the Putintseva serve in the seventh game before securing victory in one hour and 24 minutes.
The American has not dropped a set over the course of her fortnight in Paris thus far, having only been pushed to a tiebreak twice - against Putitntseva, and in the third round against No.21 seed Naomi Osaka
"There's those big moments that happen in matches - being down set point against Osaka the other day and being able to win that point in the tiebreaker - those are kind of the moments where you feel like you get through it, and that just helps you later in the tournament," she said.
"I think the biggest thing is just staying so level-headed after being down a break in the first. But more than that, I think I served out the match really well. That has not always been easy for me, especially here.
"To be 30-All, 5-4 and have two really good serves and go for it and trust my game, I think that's what I'm most happy with."
A rematch of the US Open final is on the cards for the No.13 seed next, as she'll face Sloane Stephens for a spot in each woman's second Grand Slam final.
"Honestly, the Open feels like it was 12 years ago at this point. I obviously rely on what I learned there and how to manage my emotions and manage the moment, but there were so many late nights and I was so tired," Keys said.
"It feels completely different here. I obviously lost to Sloane at the US Open, but, you know, I feel like on clay it's a little bit of a different matchup. I'm going to have to be the one to try to open up the court and go for my shots."
