Keys Makes It Hard for Herself but Overcomes Mertens Hurdle at Indian Wells
It was a tough day for Madison Keys on Monday, as she defeated Elise Mertens (6-3, 6-7, 6-4) in the third round of the WTA 1000 at Indian Wells.
The Australian Open champion had led 6-3, 3-0, and even 6-3, 5-3, before showing signs of nervousness on her first two match points.
In the tie-break of the second set, the world No. 5 earned two more match points at 6-5 and then 7-6, but failed to convert them. Mertens, who was more resilient towards the end of the set, took advantage to push the match into an almost unexpected third set.
Ultimately, logic prevailed in the decisive set, and on her sixth match point, after 2 hours and 48 minutes of play, Keys secured her spot in the quarterfinals and claimed her fourteenth consecutive win this year.
She could face her compatriot Emma Navarro in the next match, provided Navarro manages to defeat Donna Vekic today.
