NEW YORK — Madison Keys stunned third-seeded Jessica Pegula 6-1, 6-3 in an all-American clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday, reaching the US Open quarterfinals for the first time since 2018.
Keys crashed out of the first round at Cincinnati last month but appeared right at home on the New York hard courts, where she was runner-up in 2017, as she overwhelmed her opponent with 21 winners.
Pegula beat the 17th-seeded Keys in their only previous meeting last year and was considered one of the U.S.'s brightest hopes after winning the Montreal title last month.
However, on Monday she lacked her usual firepower and finesse. «I've had so many amazing moments in New York,» said Keys, who is playing in her 12th US Open main draw. «Being able to at any moment come back from any difficult positions I've been in matches has been amazing.» She next plays Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, who overcame a rocky start to beat American Peyton Stearns 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-2.