Cincinnati: Muguruza saves match points, beats Keys

Garbine Muguruza stared down three match points to beat home favourite Madison Keys in an entertaining battle in Cincinnati.

The reigning Wimbledon champion, who trailed 4-2 in the third set, completed a 6-4 3-6 7-6(3) victory to advance to the quarterfinals.

NEWS: Azarenka may miss US Open due to custody dispute

Keys served for the match in the 12th game and reached 40-15, and held a third match point after Muguruza levelled at deuce, but committed errors against the steady Spaniard.

Keys tips cap to Muguruza. “Had some UFEs I wasn't happy about, but felt like I had to go for it b/c she was just going to make everything."

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) August 17, 2017

Brimming with confidence after escaping, Muguruza dominated the tiebreak against an increasingly despondent Keys, who gathered her bag and departed Centre Court hastily after losing the match.

FEATURE: the female serve – an exploration

Both players received injury timeouts during the match – Keys for a wrist complaint, Muguruza for a lower back issue – which was significantly delayed by rain when scores were locked at 2-2 in the third.

Muguruza’s victory – which sets up a battle with eighth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova – was her first over Keys in four attempts.

Kuznetsova advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-2 6-4 win over Muguruza’s compatriot Carla Suarez Navarro.

All the top women who played on Thursday in Cincinnati advanced to the last eight; joining fourth seed Muguruza and eighth seed Kuznetsova were Simona Halep (No.2), Caroline Wozniacki (No.6) and Johanna Konta (No.7).

WOODBRIDGE: Barty’s extraordinary return

Halep subdued 15th seed Anastasija Sevastova 6-4 6-3 while Wozniacki ended the impressive run of young Aussie qualifier Ash Barty.

Konta emerged triumphant over No.11 seed Dominika Cibulkova 6-3 6-4 to set up a quarterfinal bout with Halep.