CINCINNATI, OH, USA – Madison Keys rallied from deficits in both sets to seal her second title of the season at the Western & Southern Open by defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7-5, 7-6(5).

The No.16 seed trailed the two-time major champion 5-3 in both sets, but erased both deficits to ultimately hoist her first title in Ohio and second trophy of 2019, joining the title at the Volvo Car Open from April.

The 24-year-old captured the fifth overall, and biggest, title of her career to date with the victory, with all nine of her career finals coming at the Premier level or higher. 

She was previously the runner-up at a pair of Premier 5 events in 2016, finishing as the finalist at both Rome and Montreal in that season. 

The 2017 US Open finalist served 13 aces – just one less than the 14 she recorded in her semifinal victory against fellow American Sofia Kenin – and improved her head-to-head against the former World No.2 to 4-0 without the loss of a set. 

Keys totaled 43 winners to 33 unforced errors, and was able to break three times on seven break points, as Kuznetsova totaled 13 winners and 13 unforced, and went just 2-for-7 on break point chances.

The Russian never had a set point chance in either set despite her opportunities, and she let three break points slip away in the seventh game of the first set which would have seen her lead, 5-2. 

The American won the last four games in the first set, breaking in the 10th and 12th games in mirror fashion, and also saved a break point at 5-5 in the second set to quell Kuznetsova’s chances at winning her first Cincinnati title.

More to come…