Madison Keys improved to 20-3 for the season after a 6-3, 7-6 win over compatriot Caroline Dolehide.
2025 WTA Tour
WTA 500
Charleston Open
LTP-Daniel Island, South Carolina, USA (Outdoor Clay)
Selected Round of 16 Matches- 3rd-4th April
4th April
Madison Keys (2) 0.25 vs Anna Kalinskaya (14) 2.85
The 2019 Charleston champ held off a spirted 2nd set surge from Dolehide, squandering seven match-points before finally getting the job done. Keys enjoyed a dream start to her 2025 campaign, winning a 9th career title in Adelaide before finally capturing that elusive maiden slam in Melbourne. She carried on that great form at Indian Wells, reaching the semifinals only to be pulverized 6-0, 6-1 by Aryna Sabalenka. The nature of that defeat perhaps knocked her back a bit (she lost to an inspired Alexadra Eala in Miami). Keys is an accomplished clay-court player who understands the nuances of the surfaces. Keys reached the French Open semifinals in 2018 and has reached the semifinals or better at both WTA 1000 clay-court events (Madrid and Rome). She won in Strasbourg last year and she has a compelling record in this event, finishing runner-up in 2015 before claiming the title in 2019. These courts are almost tailormade for her, as they are quite quick by regular clay-court standards.
26-year-old Russian Anna Kalinskaya was in dominant form in her opening Charleston clash, overpowering American Caty McNally 6-1, 6-4. The result improved her 2025 record to a meagre 5-7. She started the year in disappointing fashion, picking up a virus that prevented her from competing at the Aussie Open (where she reached the quarterfinals last year). She enjoyed her best result of the season in a low-key Singapore Tennis Open, withdrawing from her semifinal clash with Ann Li. That began a sequence of four successive defeats for the aggressive Russian. She finally broke that ugly sequence of results in Miami, thrashing Uchijima before an epic three-set defeat to hardcourt dynamo Jessica Pegula. Kalinskaya’s brand of aggressive tennis appears far better suited to hard and grass-courts. A finalist at last year’s WTA 1000 event in Dubai, Kalinskaya could do with a solid clay-court campaign this year.
The Verdict: Keys to win in three at 3- Keys leads the head-to-head 1-0, beating the Russian in three sets at the 2022 French Open. Keys has been in terrific form this year and has a far better pedigree on these surfaces. However, Kalinskaya has looked a different player in her last two outings, pushing Pegula all the way in Mimia before a resounding opening win in Charleston. I think this match could be closer than many suspect. Still, Keys should have enough to prevail in three.
