Wozniacki locks Keys out

Since winning her first WTA Tour match shortly after turning 14 in 2009, Madison Keys has worked her way up the world rankings, peaking at No. 9 entering this year’s U.S. Open.

Here at the US Open, No. 8 Keys had tiptoed along the edge of disaster, rebounding from threatening deficits in two of her three previous matches.

The second round pitted Keys with a fellow countrywoman once again and it was against 16-year-old Kayla Day competing in her first Grand Slam tournament, however, it was a routine victory for Keys taking it 6-1, 6-1.

“Both are big hitters and big servers”.

Bouchard has been one of the brightest Canadian stars over the a year ago or so but she’s not getting the wins. Furthermore, she made the final of two Premier Mandatory events on two different surfaces.

But instead of a din caused by chattering fans or rain on the roof, this time it concerned Wozniacki complaining that her opponent was making too much noise every time she employed her weird forehand slice.

However, mixed in with all of her successes in 2016 are numerous major losses. Keys discussed her close matches and the ability to pull it out.

It was, she said, a “step up or lose” moment.

In fact, if you include last season Keys has lost in four straight majors in the middle hurdle. The 26-year-old Dane runs, runs, then runs some more, retrieving and returning shots most of her rivals in tennis can only watch fly by.

“I think it was nerves a little bit”, Keys, 21, told reporters.

Caroline Wozniacki has had a forgettable season coming into NY. However, in the case of the Dane the precedents are ones that she would prefer not to set.

Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka admitted she had “freaked out” as her big lead slipped away against Madison Keys at the US Open on Friday. With no Grand Slam match-wins in the first three majors this season, a run to the fourth round at the US Open could be taken to mean that she’s starting to get back to her stronger tennis.

“She’s a frustrating player to play against”. Normally, that’s a trait of Keys, but Wozniacki looked like the Top 10 player today.

Playing with power reminiscent of the Williams sisters in their younger days, Keys has Grand Slam champion potential.

Later Friday, Djokovic, well rested after not playing since Monday, resumes his title defence against fiery Russian Mikhail Youzhny, a two-time semi-finalist in NY. Puig, the star of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro when she won her country’s first ever gold medal, was a huge disappointment at Flushing Meadows.

The excruciating collapse by Osaka played out on one of the game’s biggest stages. “No matter what my ranking is, I always feel like I’m a target”.

Both players will sense this is a good opportunity to not just make the quarterfinals but the semifinals is a very good possibility, and their section of the has draw opened up with French Open champion Garbine Muguruza losing to Sevastova in the second round. With the most powerful groundstrokes on the women’s tour, Keys is beginning to reign in her power and proving a more hard opponent for everyone in the sport.

“I got nervous when I served for the match, it was very risky”, said the Italian who stunned Serena Williams in the semi-finals 12 months ago.