Nevertheless, we start with Muguruza who has advanced to her first semi-final of the season, with the number three seed playing some aggressive tennis, particularly last time out against Timea Bacsinszky. So it’s only four tournaments. “I think she’s such a powerful player”. “I feel like Madison is one of the players that really can be great and she has that potential, and now she’s showing that on all surfaces”.
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Having lost two finals this season, Williams’ win comes in timely fashion before Paris: “It was important to go out there and win one (title)”.
“I’m feeling pretty fit”. I’m going to definitely go in there and I feel calmer and I don’t feel stress to have to win.
It’s a tribute to Williams’ remarkable staying power when you consider how many talented challengers she’s beaten back over the years. The world number one managed to win 54% of the points on her first serve. But she maintained her composure and finished it off by winning two of the next three points. “But it’s always great to hear that from her…. I wasn’t”, Keys said.
This was the first all-American final in Rome since Billie Jean King defeated Julie Heldman 46 years ago.
Begu, meanwhile, earned a guaranteed top-32 seeding at next week’s French Open and boosted her world ranking from 35 to 28 off the back of an impressive tournament performance.
The victory meant much for Serena as it also ended her nine-month title drought. Chris Evert holds the women’s record with five titles while Rafael Nadal holds the overall mark with seven. Keys only career title came in the 2014 AEGON International. This is far and away her biggest final. The most recent match was in last years US Open and the other was in last years Australian Open.
On Sunday, Keys started with conviction, breaking Williams in the opening game and taking the first set to a tiebreak.
Serena Williams returns the ball to Madison Keys, during their final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Sunday, May 15, 2016. She had little difficulty closing out the match in the second set, thanks in part to eight fewer unforced errors on the match.
“Every year I only play one tournament before Australia – done OK there”, Serena said, referring to her six Grand Slam singles titles in Melbourne. When Keys isn’t making mistakes and hitting her spots, she’s more than capable of being a top-10 player.
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Americans have has long wondered who might be their next female champion after the Williams sisters. Please see our terms of service for more information.
