Keys saves set point for two consecutive times, then finally takes control of the match opener with a 7-3 win in the thirteenth deciding game.
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Angelique Kerber, of Germany, reacts during a play in her match with Simona Halep, of Romania, during women’s semifinal Rogers Cup tennis action, in Montreal on Saturday, July 30, 2016.
Halep moved up to world number three with her gruelling three-set win over Angelique Kerber in a real battle between the pair, while Keys coasted past qualifier Kristina Kucova and dropped just three games en route to booking her spot in the tournament finale. That gets underway at 1:00 p.m.
In the second set, Kerber took a 2-0 lead after breaking Kasatkina in the second game.
Tenth-seeded Madison Keys defeated 16th-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-6, 1-6, 6-0.
Halap took a rest break and was right back out on the court with compatriot Monica Niculescu to win their doubles semifinal 6-3, 2-6 (10-6) against the Slovakian duo of Andreja Klepac and Katarina Srebotnik. “I was just going for some shots too early”.
“She hits very strong and it’s really tough to return her balls but I knew that I have to be strong on my legs”, counter puncher Halep said of her strategy against Keys.
The German will want to dictate play again and although her lefty serve works very well on grass, it is a lethal weapon on hard courts as well but she will need to execute it perfectly.
Halep said she enjoys playing in Montreal because she is supported by the large Romanian community.
Kucova at 26 years old is finally seeing tour success after years back showing early promise by winning the US Open juniors. “We ve played a lot of good matches in the past”.
“There’s only one person who is going to walk away and be completely happy with this week”, said Keys.
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Stan Wawrinka stormed into his first semi-final at the ATP Toronto Masters on Friday, thrashing South Africa’s Kevin Anderson 6-1, 6-3. The American duo of Christina McHale and Asia Muhammad upset top-seeded Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza. I can say I have strong legs and I can be solid on the backhand. The Russians broke Makarova and Vesnina four times out of seven attempts while managing to save four out of five attempts from their Australian opponents.
