Wimbledon | Madison Keys and Elena Rybakina advance to quarter-finals

(Wimbledon) Jostled for a set and a half by the young Russian Mirra Andreeva, 16, the American Madison Keys found the tactical parade to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon tournament on Monday, 3-6, 7- 6 (7/4), 6-2.

Andreeva was closed-faced and almost sulky as she shook hands with Keys at the end of the match, but she will no doubt have a lot to learn by analyzing how it went.

Eight years after reaching this stage of the competition on the London turf, Keys, who also has a final at the United States Open in 2017 and semi-finals in Australia (2015, 2022), at Roland-Garros. (2018) and at the United States Open (2018), spoke about his experience.

“I knew that by staying in the game, at some point all my years on the circuit would end up paying off,” she explained after the meeting.

Because it was a real challenge that Andreeva offered him with her effective first ball and her knowledge of the counter to win the first set 6-3.

It was the first set lost this season on grass by Keys, who last week won the Eastbourne tournament for the second time in his career.

Combining power and precision, Andreeva broke away again in the second set to lead 4-1 with a second break point in her favor.

But Keys, with a better first-serving percentage, finally getting her devastating forehands in and coming to the net more, revived the experience.

She even took over the break at 2-4 by changing hands during the exchange, concluding at the net with a short crossed forehand with her left hand when she was right-handed.

The tiebreak in the second set was very undecided, but scoring on the opposing serve to lead 5-4 with his two serves to follow, Keys tied it one set all the way.

The third round was not necessarily good news for Andreeva, who went through three qualifying rounds before entering the main draw.

The American’s quick break to lead 3-0 no doubt took a toll on the morale of the young Russian who seemed blunt and almost fatalistic late in the game. She had only one opportunity to regain the break, which she let go and Keys will face in the next round the Belarusian world number 2, Aryna Sabalenka or the Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Haddad Maia retires, Rybakina in quarter

Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil retired to injury in the Wimbledon Round of 16 on Monday, trailing 4-1 in the first set by Kazakh defending champion Elena Rybakina, who qualified for the quarter-finals. of final.

Just after the loss of her serve, 3-1 against her, the surprise semi-finalist at the last Roland-Garros, complained of her lower back and requested a medical time-out.

She left the court to be treated, but when she returned, although she tried to resume the match, she was unable to move.

In tears, she ended up joining her opponent at the net to give up.

Rybakina, world number three, will face Tunisian Ons Jabeur (6^e) or the Czech Petra Kvitova (9^e).