Madison Keys showcased her formidable talent on the clay courts of Charleston as she secured a spot in the semifinals of the Credit One Championships. The former Charleston champion faced Belinda Bencic in a gripping encounter, managing to overcome a set deficit to claim victory with a scoreline of 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
This marks Keys’ first semifinal appearance of the season, an encouraging sign for the American who last reached a semifinal at Queen’s Club in June of the previous year. In her upcoming match on Saturday, she will look to maintain her momentum against either McCartney Kessler or Yuliia Starodubtseva, ranked 53rd and 89th in the world, respectively. Notably, Keys has navigated her way through this tournament without the presence of her husband and coach, Bjorn Fratangelo, who is currently on assignment.
Following the match, Keys reflected on her solo performance without direct coaching support, humorously describing it as a nostalgic experience. “Old school, by yourself on court, no coaching, kind of nice,” she quipped during her post-match interview. Despite the absence of her coach, she stays connected with him, reviewing match strategy through phone conversations.
In the match against Bencic, Keys displayed both power and patience, effectively timing her attacks and making smart decisions. Her statistics highlighted her aggressive play—she recorded eight aces while allowing only two double faults, successfully defending nine of twelve break points.
Keys noted, “I think in the first set I was trying to hit through her a little too quickly. She was beating me with my own pace.” This insight speaks to her ability to adapt under pressure, especially against a player as skilled as Bencic. In the second set, after conceding the first, Keys implemented a more strategic approach. She demonstrated an impressive response by bouncing back from 0-40 down in her opening game of the second set, setting the tone for her comeback.
The match saw Keys and Bencic exchanging breaks of serve early on, with Bencic ultimately clinching the first set after capitalizing on a series of unforced errors from Keys. However, Keys established control in the second set, displaying superior consistency with her groundstrokes and converting critical points.
Following a lengthy bathroom break by Bencic, Keys returned to the court with renewed focus. She quickly found herself under pressure yet responded with a blend of fierce forehands and effective serves, successfully holding her serve. A key moment came when Keys broke Bencic’s serve to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the final set, which set the foundation for her victory.
Keys’ ability to mix power with finesse was on full display, as she not only blasted shots down the lines but also executed delicate drop shots to further frustrate her opponent. Ultimately, she sealed the match on her first match point with a brilliant crosscourt forehand that left Bencic scrambling.
With this triumph, Keys continues her pursuit of an 11th career title, looking to capture her third championship on clay. As she moves toward the semifinals, the tennis world will be eager to see if she can build on this momentum and take another step toward glory in Charleston.
