Queens, NY—-In a closely contested match showcasing the prowess of aggressive baseliners, Madison Keys, seeded 17th and a finalist in the 2017 US Open, triumphed over Liudmila Samsonova, seeded 15th, with a score of 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 in Round 3 at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Day 6 of the 2023 US Open.
Reflecting on her victory, Keys remarked, “It unfolded just as I anticipated today. She’s capable of playing at a very high level, so it was about weathering the storm and seizing opportunities when they arose. I’m thrilled to have regained control and played on my terms.”
The match saw both players enjoying relatively smooth service games until a pivotal moment at 5-5, when Keys, aged 28, conceded a break point with a wide backhand, allowing the 24-year-old Samsonova to seize a 6-5 lead. Samsonova capitalized on the opportunity, clinching the first set with a service winner. Notably, Keys excels on hard courts, with three of her seven titles earned on this surface, including victories in Adelaide (2022), Cincinnati (2019), and Stanford (2017).
Despite her relatively young age, Keys boasts considerable experience on the tour. Making her Tour-level debut as a wild card at Ponte Vedra Beach in 2009, she became the seventh youngest player to secure a WTA main draw win, achieving this feat at just 14 years and 48 days. Her career-high ranking of No. 7 in October 2017 underscores her standing as a seasoned professional.
In addition to her US Open achievements, Keys has reached the semifinals of three other Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open in 2015 and 2022, and Roland Garros in 2018. She has also reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2018, Roland Garros in 2019, and Wimbledon in 2015 and 2023. With her 12th appearance in the US Open main draw, Keys now awaits the winner of the match between No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula and No. 26 seed Elina Svitolina in Round 4. Her impressive record includes 55 career wins over Top-20 players, including a recent victory over No. 7 Coco Gauff at Eastbourne.
As for Samsonova, this marks her fourth appearance in the US Open main draw (fifth overall), with her previous best result being a fourth-round exit in 2022. Overall, she boasts 14 Grand Slam main draw appearances, with a third-round record of 2-1. Samsonova, a three-time hard-court champion in 2022 (Tokyo, Cleveland, and Washington, D.C.), has notched 15 wins over Top-20 players, including notable victories against No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 4 Elena Rybakina en route to the Montreal final last month, where she fell to Pegula. Leading up to the US Open, she reached the semifinals in Washington, D.C., before succumbing to Gauff.
In 2017, at the age of 22, Keys made history as the youngest finalist at Flushing Meadows since Kim Clijsters in 2009, ultimately losing to Sloane Stephens. This memorable showdown marked the 10th all-American final in the Open Era.
