'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Match details
Fixture: (8) Magda Linette vs (9) Madison Keys
Date: April 6, 2023
Tournament: Charleston Open 2023
Round: Third round (Round of 16)
Venue: Charleston, USA
Category: WTA 500
Surface: Outdoor clay (green)
Prize money: $780,637
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Magda Linette vs Madison Keys preview
World No. 19 Magda Linette will lock horns with home favorite Madison Keys in the third round of the 2023 Charleston Open on Thursday.
Linette received a bye into the second round, where Varvara Gracheva awaited her. She trailed by a break twice in the first set, but recovered on both occasions and managed to force a tie-break, which the Pole ended up losing.
Linette secured an early break of serve to lead 3-1 in the second set. Gracheva got back on serve soon enough. The Pole went on a three-game run towards the end of the set to clinch it.
The deciding set was a close affair. Linette nabbed a break in the seventh game to go 4-3 up and followed it up with a service hold to make it 5-3. She held a couple of match points on Gracheva's serve in the following game, but failed to close it out.
Serving for the match, Linette first needed to save a couple of break points. She then finally wrapped up the proceedings on her fifth match point to complete a 6-7 (3), 7-5, 6-4 comeback win.
Meanwhile, after defeating Emma Navarro in the first round, Keys faced fellow American Hailey Baptiste in the second round. The 28-year-old handed her opponent a breadstick en route to claiming the opening set.
Baptiste proved to be no match for Keys in the second set either. The former US Open finalist raced to a 5-1 lead and soon served out the match with ease to win 6-1, 6-2.
Magda Linette vs Madison Keys head-to-head
Keys leads Linette 2-1 in the head-to-head. She won their previous encounter at the 2023 United Cup in straight sets.
Magda Linette vs Madison Keys odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Magda Linette vs Madison Keys prediction
Linette was thoroughly tested by Gracheva in the previous round and needed almost three hours to secure the win. The 31-year-old kept her composure despite being under constant pressure and was ultimately rewarded for it.
Keys, meanwhile, has had a relatively easy time in Charleston, winning both of her matches in straight sets. Against Baptiste in the previous round, she didn't lose her serve even once.
Keys and Linette faced off just a few months ago at the United Cup, with the American coming out on top in straight sets. The 28-year-old's hard-hitting game overwhelmed the Pole back then.
Keys' powerful groundstrokes lose a little bit of their potency on clay, which could sway the tide in Linette's favor. The Pole is more consistent in her ball-striking as well.
However, after a marathon battle against Gracheva, Linette could be feeling a little fatigued. If that's not an issue, she could certainly make this a competitive contest. Keys, on the other hand, has shown the ability to handle the Pole's game quite well and has a good chance of extending her winning record against her.
Pick: Madison Keys to win in three sets.
