Americans Vandeweghe, Keys Advance to Tournament Finals
Two Americans on the women’s side will be playing in their respective tournaments’ championship matches this weekend as Madison Keys and Coco Vandeweghe both advanced with semifinal victories on Friday.
Vandeweghe is playing in the Topshelf Open in the Netherlands and has reached her first WTA semifinal since 2012 after defeating Garbine Muguruza on Thursday. In the final four, she drew a matchup with eighth-seeded Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic.
It was a rematch between the two as Koukalova beat Vandeweghe last week at the Birmingham Classic, but this contest would be different. Vandeweghe used a commanding serve to smash nine aces on her way to the 6-4, 6-2 victory.
Koukalova won this tournament back in 2005, but was unable to counter Vandeweghe’s serve all match long. The American converted 26 of her 31 first serves into points and had control of the match throughout.
“It was a good, clean match,” said Vandeweghe. “Last week I lost to her in a tough three-setter after serving for the match, so I definitely looked at it as a revenge match. To get that win in a semifinal is a really fun feeling. I’m totally happy and elated. It’s been a good year so far. I’m looking forward to playing in the final.”
Vandeweghe will meet Zheng Jie in the title match after Zheng cruised past Magdalena Rybarikova 6-1, 6-3. The 30-year old from China has yet to drop a set in this tournament and won her semifinal match in under an hour.
Over in England, Madison Keys moved into the Aegon International championship after beating the British Heather Watson. The 19-year old from Illinois ran through Watson for the 6-3, 6-1 victory.
Keys smashed six aces and made the most of her 24 first serves, converting 83 percent of them into points. She also saved all six of her break point opportunities while Watson failed to pick up a single break point.
The American teenager will meet Angelique Kerber, who had to come back from a set down to defeat eighth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki. The Dane took the opening set and led 2-0 in the second set before the match spiraled out of her control.
After using solid groundstroke’s to get her back into the set, Kerber outdueled Wozniacki to take the last five points of the tiebreaker to capture the second set and force the match into a third. The final set belonged to the German who became very aggressive in attacking the net and putting Wozniacki back on her heels, eventually taking the match 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-3.
“I’m really happy about my game,” said Kerber. “Carolina is [a] tough opponent and I think we played tough match and a really high level. I enjoyed it out there and I’m happy to be in the final. I’m feeling very good on grass and I like the surface-it suits my game.”
Both championship matches will take place Saturday.
