Madison Keys has won her second career title, this one also coming on the grass. The American took out Barbora Strycova in straight sets to claim her second Premier title ever. Keys now makes her debut in the top 10 and becomes one of three Americans inside the top ten, which marks the first time since 2005 that three Americans are in the top 10, joining Serena and Venus Williams.
Opening Set to Keys
The American flew out to a quick start. It began with a hold at 15 and threatened to break early on. Her powerful groundstrokes were made for this low bouncing surface as she had Strycova on the defensive. A wonderful slice drew the Czech into the net, before smashing a backhand down the line. Keys would be gifted the break after Strycova went for the serve and volley play and dumped the volley wide.
She held for 3-0 and continued to impose her will on Strycova. The Czech finally got on the board for 3-1, but Keys kept firing away and held for 4-1 with a forehand winner. Strycova continued to battle and remained down at 3-5 and was looking for the break with Keys serving for the set. The attack began by pounding her forehand to the Strycova backhand. She stepped in and took the shot early to allow to put away an easy volley into the open court. She sealed the set thanks to the Czech’s backhand slice falling well short.
Strycova Hangs Tough But Keys Takes Home The Title
The Czech had to save a number of break points early on, and that was huge because falling a break down would have meant that the match was all but over with how Keys was playing. She then had a chance to go up a break but failed to deliver on three break chances of her own. The variety of Strycova began to show as a lovely drop shot put her up 2-1 in the second.
Keys found herself in a tight situation serving for four-all. She saved a break point and then held on for four-all, putting the pressure on Strycova after faltering on converting break points. Keys would then go on to break with ease as Strycova could not regain mental stability after her failed break chance. It was no problem for the American who shut the door on her first Aegon Classic title in Birmingham.
