MADISON KEYS BEATS VENUS WILLIAMS IN 3 SETS @ THE 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN AND MORE TENNIS NEWS BY GLOBAL CHICK

The turning of Keys?

What makes a star in the making shine? Is it the marketability? The constant hype around “the next best thing” or is it just the opposite and a quiet determination to do the right things and get the job done that marks out Madison Keys as the one to watch this year.

 

This time last year it was all about Eugenie Bouchard as she made a run to her first Slam semi-final of the year and we thought we were on the verge of another star to join the break-through crew. And she did not disappoint (well perhaps where the name Justin Bieber gets mentioned, maybe) as she repeated the feat at the French Open before finally making it to the final of a Grand Slam in Wimbledon.

 

While former champion Petra Kvitova was candidly discussing how she had struggled to cope with the pressure when she won Wimbledon the first time, Bouchard was holding forth about how she was not on the tour to make friends and all that stirring stuff you expect to hear from a new leader-elect. Except the script did not go down that way, not one bit and we couldn’t help but wonder, sitting in her press conference after the final whether perhaps she wished a few friends around right now.

 

It is no secret that Keys has started to struggle with injury again this tournament, and after collecting her first title in Eastbourne, along with charming the woolly socks off everyone (it’s a seaside town in the UK – it’s cold!) she sadly had to retire in her third round match against Yaroslava Shvedova when she was a set-up and 6-6 and could have been a step away from the fourth round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To see her blossom here has been interesting, especially in the context of Venus Williams’ resurgence. And when we take a look at some of the “next best things” that have ben paraded in front of us, it’s a little refreshing to have someone just appreciating they are in the position to make the biggest impact of their career right here, as opposed to acting as though they have done it already, but without the silverware to back it up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can Keys do the same against Serena? Experience says sadly not. While she can batter the ball to a pulp every bit as well as Serena, and despite the fact that the World No. 1 is battling some bug (sore throat variety, not dive bombing winged beast), Williams is hitting her stride at exactly the time you would expect her to.

 

The same should be said for World No. 2 Maria Sharapova who finds herself in an all-Russian semi-final with Ekaterina Makarova. Although she has a woeful record (so far) against Sharapova (0-4) she has made her second consecutive Slam semi-final with no fan fair, no fuss and with two Grand Slam doubles titles as well to her name.

Meanwhile get your popcorn out for mind games a plenty as Andy Murray tackles the tactics of his former coach Dani Vallverdu when he meets Tomas Berdych for a place in the final. Tough one to call this – Berdych wants a piece of the Slam action (well, who wouldn’t) and has been impressive this year. Murray has not started poorly either.

 

Save some popcorn for another great showdown between World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and defending champion Stan Wawrinka.

 

In short – call in sick tomorrow because three of the best matches this tournament has to offer are all set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Topics: 2015 Australian Open, Andy Murray, Ekaterina Makarova, Madison Keys, Maria Sharapova, Melbourne, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Stan Wawrinka, Tennis, Tomas Berdych, Venus Williams

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