Keys and Stephens power into French Open quarterfinals

Americans Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens both completed their set of Grand Slam quarterfinals with powerful fourth-round performances at the French Open.

Keys described breaking new ground in Paris as “awesome” while Stephens admitted it was “super cool” following Sunday’s victories.

And while the return of Serena Williams to Grand Slam action has grabbed much of the attention in Paris, her younger compatriots also look capable of challenging for the title.

Keys, seeded 10th, has yet to drop a set after overpowering Romania’s Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-1 6-4, winning 11 of the first 13 games.

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“This was always the one where it was the most difficult for me, and it was always the toughest one to feel like I could play well here,” said Keys.

“So to be able to get to the quarterfinals really means a lot.”

First Roland-Garros quarterfinal for @sloanestephens!

Topples Kontaveit 6-2 6-0. Plays winner of Wozniacki/Kasatkina.#RG18 pic.twitter.com/J7yrtcsTXg

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 3, 2018

Tenth seed Stephens, who beat Keys to win the US Open last September, thrashed Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit 6-0 6-2 in just 52 minutes.

“Once you get this far, there is still more to be done,” said Stephens.

“But obviously I think a personal milestone for myself was getting to the quarters, after doing well here fourth round a lot of the years in a row.

“So I think that was something big for me, which is great. But hopefully it doesn’t end here. I would like to keep going.”

Keys goes on to face Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan, a rival from their junior days, who beat Czech 26th seed Barbora Strycova 6-4 6-3 to reach the last eight at Roland Garros for the second time.

“I remember she’s always been so solid, a very good player, good serve, big forehand, very good shots,” Putintseva said of Keys.

“So it’s going to be a very difficult match for me.”

Stephens awaits the winner of the match between Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki and Russian 14th seed Daria Kasatkina, with Kasatkina leading 7-6(5) 3-3 when play was halted in fading light.