Madison Keys upsets Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati while Emma Raducanu bows out
Madison Keys defeated top seed Iga Swiatek while US Open champion Emma Raducanu was knocked out at the Western & Southern Open.
Keys recorded her first victory over a world number one in Cincinnati on Thursday, defeating Swiatek 6-3, 6-4.
Having already lost a set and going 5-0 down in the second, the writing was on the wall for the Polish star.
But Swiatek was stubborn, saving two match points to battle back to 5-4.
Keys, however, managed to reset and crush two groundstroke winners to wrap up proceedings.
Waiting for Keys in the quarter-finals is Elina Rybakina, who defeated local hopeful Alison Riske 6-2, 6-4 earlier in the day.
Madison's MOMENT ⭐️
— wta (@WTA) August 18, 2022
2019 champion 🇺🇸 @Madison_Keys records her first-ever victory over a World No.1, taking out Swiatek, 6-3, 6-4 on home soil!#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/GjrBHcXJe5
Meanwhile, reigning US Open champion Raducanu's seemingly red-hot form came to an abrupt halt against world number eight Jessica Pegula, who defeated the Brit 7-5, 6-4.
Pegula is set to face Frenchwomen Caroline Garcia in the last eight.
Raducanu defeated soon-to-retire 23-time grand slam champion Serena Williams and former world number one Vicotria Azarenka this week, but came unstuck against the feisty American.
Nonetheless, the British number one is treating the tumultuous week as a learning experience.
🫢 is right@JLPegula | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/Zz2A9XuepB
— wta (@WTA) August 19, 2022
"In the past year, I think it's probably the first tournament or one of the few tournaments that I have actually started going for my shots more," said the 19-year-old.
"To play back-to-back days between the first and second, it was pretty quick turnover.
"I think that it's difficult as well to stay mentally focused, to keep mentally just going back out there and backing the performances up."