Through the first five service games Venus was solid on serve not giving many chances to Madison, but the younger player was matching her elder in general shot making off the ground.
At 2-3 Venus passed Keys down the line and an error from Madison at her in strife at 0-30 but she steadied to win the next three points. At deuce an ace was of great relief as was the forehand hit long by Venus to level things at 3-3.
The seventh game was all about Madison following the first point which Venus netted after a searching rally. A clean winner down the line and another this time an off forehand cross court were finished off with a volley put away to break the Venus serve and the 19 year old led 4-3.
A comfortable service hold and then Venus needed to hold herself at 3-5. Madison saw Venus at the baseline on the first point and rushed the net and played and exquisite half volley winner. A double fault and netted shot from Venus were topped off with a brilliant pass from Keys to win the set 6-3. An excellent performance in her first quarter final.
The second set began with two quick service holds before Madison's great run ended with a couple of netted shots, a forehand long and a double fault to hand a break to Venus who now owned the 2-1 edge.
Williams had no trouble converting the break largely due to Madison's continuing woes and although she hit a splendid backhand winner to start her next service game the rest of the Keys backhand attempts found the net and she lost serve again, Venus now leading 4-1.
Medical time out for Madison Keys, probably to address the injury to her backhand.
These time outs can certainly act as momentum stoppers - Venus played a scrappy service game which she lost rather than Madison won and then Madison improved her serve and stroke play enough to hold on to a serve and games were 4-3 with the Williams serve to come, still a real in hand.
A couple of clean strikes from Keys helped her to break again and level at 4-4 and she saved two break points in the next game with fine ground strokes.
However Venus was strong and consistent and capitalised on the Keys errors to break yet again and serve fro the set.
No mistakes and with the 6-4 success for Venus the two were tied at a set apiece.
The final set was a back and forth affair and neither player seemed confident of putting a sequence of points or games together enough to claim victory.
Venus broke first and led 3-1 suggesting perhaps that experience may be the factor deciding the day. However Madison stuck firm and broke back for 3-3 with some fine winners from both sides, her backhand coming off the racquet like it was in the first set.
Venus came one more time to break and lead 4-3, her forehand the key, but this was th final push from the 34 year old.
Madison Keys closed out the match in sensational style, taking the final three games with great shot making and poise beyond her years.
A netted attempt from Venus concluded the match putting Madison Keys into the semi final 6-2 4-6 6-4
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