*Pegula (6) 4-2 Keys (9) A second double fault of the morning puts Keys behind the eight ball, then she shanks a straightforward put-away at the net – her second horrendous mistake of the match! Two uncharacteristic errors from the ninth seed. Showing great fortitude Keys retains her composure and belts her way in front with a series of huge forehands before sealing a clutch hold with a well disguised backhand drop shot.
Pegula (6) 4-1 Keys (9)* Pegula eases up 40-0, demonstrating her ease of movement and clean ball striking, especially on the forehand side. Keys drags it back to 40-30 but misses an attempted in-to-out winner to fall 4-1 behind in the opening set. The defending champion has won only 4/16 points on the Pegula serve.
*Pegula (6) 3-1 Keys (9) Pegula crunches a massive forehand deep into the forehand corner for 0-15, then after levelling up Keys hits about as wild a second serve as you’re ever likely to see for a grisly double fault. Pegula has a huge opportunity to climb into another second serve but Keys somehow peels off a forehand half-volley winner off her laces to rescue the game. With a huge sigh of relief Keys gets herself on the board with a structured point, serving wide to the Pegula backhand then putting away the groundstroke into the forehand corner.
