Black Tennis Pros

American Madison Keys takes out Romanian Simona Halep and sets up quarter-final match with fellow American Venus Williams.

WOW!! If you missed American Madison Key's 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 win over Romanian Simona Halep tonight, you truly missed a match!

This evening's round of 16 match featuring Keys and Halep at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio definitely increased the value of every ticket purchased!  It goes without saying that both women are top players, Halep currently ranked at #4 and Keys at #18.  Even though Halep has been having a more progressive year of play than Keys, it was Keys who very confidently entered tonight's match after a 6-4, 6-1 win over Russian Daria Kasatkina.

Though the match entailed ups and downs for both players, Keys never let up - from her 10 aces to some exquisite shot making, she remained focused throughout the match, and pulled out of every tight spot in the final games of the third set.

Madison raised the roof  in the stadium tonight.  During her post-match interview she stated "...Really happy that after losing my lead in the third set, I was able to get it back. I'm incredibly happy to be able to play tomorrow."

When asked, "What does this kind of win remind you about your level of play right now?" Keys responded, "It definitely reminds me that  when I'm in the right mindset and playing some good tennis, I can compete with anyone, and really happy that I was able to play some of my best tennis tonight."

Up next for Keys in the quarterfinals, fellow American Venus Williams!

Madison Keys began delivering balls to fans post-match with a throw instead of her racquet.

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In their quarterfinal match at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio on Friday evening, Frenchman Gael Monfils initiated an impressive game of tennis against World No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia, taking the first set 6-3.

Alas, 'twas not to last -- the rematch of their Montreal quarterfinal last week would slowly drift into the same direction.


Going into the second set with the same vigor, Monfils continued to vary his game and provide as much offense as defense. He was at the net more than I've ever seen him there, and with great efficacy.

By the end of the second set, which he lost, 4-6, Monfils had also begun to lose his intensity as he hit fewer winning shots, ran out of breath, and experience an overall game decline.

The final score was 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

It was good to see Monfils elevate his game to another level. Hopefully, we will see him maintain that level throughout entire matches in the future.

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Frenchman Gael Monfils advanced after defeating German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2, 6-2 in his third-round match Thursday evening. He won 84 per cent of his first serve points and broke his opponent four times from six chances.

Monfils will next play Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals for a second straight week.



American James Blake had to endure the agony of defeat on Thursday. Former World No. 1 Roger Federer prevailed 6-4 6-1.

Blake, former World No. 4, missed most of 2010 due to injuries, and has played most of 2011 on the pro circuit.



Newly minted World No. 10 Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was upset by qualifier Alex Bogommolov on Wednesday. Tsonga, a semi-finalist at Wimbledon, fell to the 28-year-old Florida-based, Moscow-born Bogomolov 6-3 6-4.

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Q.  What do you think about playing James Blake next?

ROGER FEDERER: Fun.  I’m really looking forward to it.  He’s a good friend of mine, and it’s been hard seeing him go through challenges and surgeries and injuries and so forth.  He’s back on the big stage where he belongs, especially here in the States.  It’s going to be a tricky, tough match.

I don’t know if the last match we played against each other was the Olympic match, but that was obviously a pretty big match for me to lose as well.  May be getting a chance for some revenge.  I’m looking forward to it.

Seems like he’s playing well.  Definitely going to be ready for it.  Had a great finals here years ago, and hope we can make something similar happen.

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