Madison Keys came back from a set down to beat Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the Credit One Charleston Open quarterfinals. The American advanced to her first semifinal of the season. Keys will face Yulia Starodubtseva next.
Madison Keys of Rock Island, Illinois, overcame an early deficit against Switzerland's Belinda Bencic on stadium court at the Credit One Charleston Open. The 31-year-old, the 2025 Australian Open champion whose ranking has slipped to No. 18, had not lost a set in her prior two matches. Bencic, 29, returned strongly after giving birth in 2024, winning two WTA 500 titles last year and going undefeated in singles at this season's United Cup, including victories over Iga Swiatek and Jasmine Paolini. Both are former Charleston champions with 10 career titles; Keys now leads their head-to-head 4-2 after splitting prior clay meetings. Keys won the coin toss and chose to receive but dropped serve early. Bencic took the first set 6-4 after Keys netted a forehand on set point. In the second, Keys saved multiple break points with aces and broke Bencic amid mounting errors, winning 6-3. The decider saw Keys break twice early for a 3-0 lead, though both traded service breaks later. Keys closed it 6-2, sealing the match with a forehand pass. Keys tallied eight aces, two double faults, and converted 6 of 12 break points while saving 9 of 12. She won 72% of first-serve points and dominated returns, taking 76% of second-serve return points. On her return game, Keys said, “I think it was really important today... just knowing that you’re always in her service games.” Her opponent, Ukraine's Yulia Starodubtseva, ranked No. 89, reached her first tour-level semifinal by beating McCartney Kessler.
