U.S. Open: Madison Keys Advances to Quarterfinals with Dominant Win over Pegula

Madison Keys dominates Jessica Pegula in straight sets to advance to the U.S. Open quarterfinals.

Madison Keys, the 17th seed and former runner-up at Flushing Meadows, dominated her fellow American and third-seeded opponent, Jessica Pegula, in a swift and decisive victory. Keys showcased her powerful groundstrokes and impressive first-serve percentage, converting on 77% of her first-serve points. By keeping rallies short and averaging just over three strokes per rally, Keys was able to control the match and secure her spot in the U.S. Open quarterfinals.

Despite their friendship off the court, Keys acknowledged the challenge of playing against a friend but emphasized the competitive nature of the sport, stating, "at the end of the day we both want to win. We're all business on the court."

For Pegula, this loss adds to her string of disappointments in Grand Slam tournaments. While she has consistently reached the quarterfinals, she has yet to break through to the final four.

Keys' next opponent in the quarterfinals will be Marketa Vondrousova, the ninth seed from the Czech Republic. Vondrousova, who recently won Wimbledon, expressed surprise at her continued success and is eager to see what the future holds.

In the men's fourth round, Carlos Alcaraz cruised to victory over Matteo Arnaldi, securing his place in the quarterfinals for the third time in as many appearances at Flushing Meadows. The top-seeded Alcaraz, who won Wimbledon earlier this year, revealed his preference for hard courts and playing under the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof. His powerful game proved too much for Arnaldi, as Alcaraz hit 31 winners and only 22 unforced errors.

At just 20 years old, Alcaraz became the youngest player in the Open Era to reach three U.S. Open quarterfinals. His achievement is matched only by Andre Agassi, who accomplished the same feat before turning 21. Alcaraz now awaits the winner of the match between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.

In Louis Armstrong Stadium, Andrey Rublev of Russia, the eighth seed, overcame Jack Draper of Britain in a hard-fought match to secure his fourth U.S. Open quarterfinal appearance and ninth Grand Slam quarterfinal of his career.

Overall, the U.S. Open continues to deliver thrilling matches and surprises as the tournament progresses. With talented players like Madison Keys, Carlos Alcaraz, and Andrey Rublev showcasing their skills, fans can expect more exciting tennis in the upcoming matches.