Keys wins Charleston Title

The final has arrived in Charleston and a remarkable streak continues. Today’s champion will be the 15th different winner from 15 tournaments this year.

Volvo Car Open (Charleston Open) - a WTA Premier category tournament, on Green Clay, in Charleston, South Carolina, USA, 1-7 April 2019.

Defending champion:

Kiki Bertens (12) who defeated Julia Goerges (5) 6-2 6-1

Madison Keys (8) v Caroline Wozniacki (5) 

Wozniacki, in the two previous meetings between the pair, won both in straight sets - 2016 US Open and 2017 Indian Wells, each round of sixteen.

Those were on hard court whereas this final would be contested on clay.

Wozniacki served first, and took her time doing it. Four game points were wasted, three thanks to forehand winners from Keys.

A break point arrived, but was saved with a Wozniacki backhand winner. After eight minutes serve was held. 

Keys opened with an ace, and whipped a brilliant forehand down the line, before pounding a service winner to hold in quick time. Then, with momentum, the American hit two winners, one a forehand return, the next an off forehand into open court. Another powerful return forced a Wozniacki error and three break points. 

One was saved, but yet another forehand return winner off the Keys racquet achieved the break and a lead of 2-1.

Winners turned to errors when Keys went to the line next and she faced two break points. A wild forehand confirmed the break and 2-2. Wozniacki had to do little.

Keys struggled again to level at 3–3, saving a break point, and Wozniacki likewise was extended in game seven, taken to deuce before holding for 4-3. Game eight was crucial in determining the outcome of the set. Errors off the Keys backhand and forehand gave Wozniacki two break points. Good serving saved the eighth seed and deuce was reached. Three game points were then wasted by Keys but she eventually levelled the set with a timely big serve.

At 5-5, Wozniacki was taken to deuce twice but held on and turned the pressure onto Keys to stay in the set.

Two serves not returned into court, then a stunning forehand winner down one line, and a backhand down the other line which put Wozniacki into a complete mess - that’s what Keys dished up in order to ensure a tie break.

Wozniacki achieved the early mini break and 2-0, but Keys broke back for 2-2. All on serve until 3-4, with Wozniacki to serve. A double fault and an inexplicable leave by Wozniacki from a Keys lob which landed in, produced three set points. Two were on the American serve. A backhand into the net saw one set point float away. A wide backhand saw another set point disappear. Now Wozniacki had two serves, the first was to level at 6-6. She couldn’t because Keys struck a magnificent backhand winner down the line to win the set 7-6(5).

Keys opened set two confidently with two forehand winners, an ace, and a high backhand volley to seal the game. 1-0. A double fault pushed Wozniacki to 0-30, and a magic Keys backhand winner down the line brought up two break chances. Both came to nothing, and Wozniacki, on her fourth game point held serve. 1-1.

Keys won game three comfortably to lead 2-1, and again put Wozniacki under pressure on serve. Taken to deuce four times, and holding serve on her fifth game point, Wozniacki was hanging in there, but appearing vulnerable. Two winning forehands were the basis of an easy service hold for Keys and 3-2.

From 30-0, Wozniacki was surprised by a Keys backhand touch shot leaving the Dane completely flat footed. Keys brought it to 30-30 with a slashing backhand return to which Wozniacki had no play. A Wozniacki backhand hit the net producing break point, and a net cord from a Keys forehand cross court finished the game, the American in a commanding position 7-6(5) 4-2.

A love game from Keys consolidated the break, the forehand continuing to wreak havoc. 5-2. Wozniacki held serve and required Keys to serve it out for a win.

Clean striking, including a volley winner, led Keys to two match points. Another volley winner was all it needed and Madison Keys won the Charleston Open 7-6(5) 6-3 - an excellent display of power precision tennis.

Keys climbs four spots to #14 in the world rankings, and on that performance should look forward to a return to the top ten at some stage this year. Wozniacki moves up a notch to #12 and also has claims for a top ten return in an ultra competitive WTA Tour.