US Open Semifinal Preview: Aryna Sabalenka vs. Madison Keys
The Belarusian will be No. 1 in the near future, but is Keys actually playing better in the present?
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Keys will probably never be consistent enough to be No. 1, or even Top 5, but she has always been one of those players who seemed to have enough raw shot-making power to reel off seven straight wins and take home a Grand Slam title at some point. At the Open in 2017, she reeled off six straight before losing the final.
Does she still have that potential in 2023? It’s a little less likely with a player like her semifinal opponent on the other side of the net. Sabalenka is perhaps the first player to come along who can generate even more power, and use it more relentlessly, than Keys does. When they met at Wimbledon this year, the American came in playing well, but still walked off a 6-2, 6-4 loser. Keys had chances, but Sabalenka never ceded control.
“She's really, really good,” Keys said with a smile when she was asked about Sabalenka on Wednesday. “I think tomorrow it’s definitely going to be a lot of who can get in charge of the point as early as possible, because I feel like both of our games, if you get behind in the point it’s a lot harder to get back to neutral and then get back on the aggressive side.”
At this year’s Open, Keys has been playing with a little more patience, and waiting a little longer to go for the kill. Her last opponent, Marketa Vondrousova, seemed like the type of player who could break her rhythm, but Keys never panicked.
The only trouble is, Sabalenka, who has lost just 21 games in five matches, is playing even better than Keys right now. She looks like the type of player who can reel off seven straight wins and take home a major title on Saturday. After two straight blown Slam semifinals, she’s due to close one out. Winner: Sabalenka