WTA Roundup: Madison Keys, Alison Riske to Meet in Adelaide Final

Madison Keys (USA) serves to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) at Indian Wells Tennis Garden, in Indian Wells, Calif., on Oct. 8, 2021. Orlando Ramirez/USA TODAY Sports via Field Level Media

Madison Keys scored a come-from-behind victory over third-seeded Coco Gauff on Friday to advance to her first tournament final in two years at the Adelaide International 2 in Adelaide, Australia.

In a matchup of Americans, Keys, 26, beat the 17-year-old Gauff 3–6, 6–2, 7–5 to set up a final against another American, Alison Riske.

Serving at 5–6 in the final set, Gauff was broken by Keys in the final game. Keys forced 17 break points in the match, converting four of them.

Earlier Friday, Riske, 31, advanced when fourth-seeded Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia withdrew ahead of their semifinal due to an abdominal injury.

Keys has won five of the six meetings with Riske. They haven’t faced each other since the first round of the 2016 U.S. Open, which Keys won 4–6, 7–6 (5), 6–2.

Sydney Tennis Classic

Third-seeded Barbora Krejcikova and fifth seed Paula Badosa will meet in Saturday’s final of the Sydney Tennis Classic.

Krejcikova, a Czech, outlasted Anett Kontaveit of Estonia 0–6, 6–2, 7–6 (12) in the first semifinal. Krejcikova finally won the marathon tiebreaker on the fifth match point after fending off four match points. Kontaveit was serving 12–11 at match point and lost both of the ensuing points on her service, putting the match back in Krejcikova’s control as she served at 13–12 for the win.

Badosa had a much easier path to the final as she defeated Russia’s Daria Kasatkina 6–2, 6–2 in the second semifinal.