MONTREAL — Rising Danish star Clara Tauson delivered another statement victory on Tuesday, defeating American Madison Keys 6-1, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of the Canadian Open. The emotional win marked Tauson's second consecutive top-10 triumph following her upset over world No. 4 Elena Rybakina in the previous round.
The 21-year-old dedicated her performance to her late grandfather, who passed away recently. Fighting back tears during her on-court interview, Tauson said, "This one's for my granddad. He was my biggest supporter, and I know he was watching today. I just wanted to make him proud." The victory propels Tauson into her first WTA 1000 semi-final, continuing her remarkable comeback from injury struggles that saw her ranking plummet outside the top 200 last year.
Dominant Display Against Former Champion
Tauson overwhelmed the 2019 Canadian Open champion from the outset, showcasing the powerful baseline game that has drawn comparisons to countrywoman Caroline Wozniacki. The Dane converted four of five break points while saving six of seven against her own serve. Keys, who entered the match with a 7-1 record in Montreal quarter-finals, struggled to handle Tauson's depth and precision.
"I felt like I was playing chess out there," Tauson told reporters. "Madison has so much experience in these big matches, so I knew I had to be aggressive but also smart. I worked really hard on my movement this year, and today it made the difference in those long rallies." The statistics bore out her assessment - Tauson won 58% of points lasting nine shots or more against one of the tour's premier power hitters.
Breakthrough Season Continues
The victory extends Tauson's breakout 2024 campaign, which has seen her:
- Climb from No. 178 to No. 32 in the rankings
- Win her second WTA title in Strasbourg
- Reach the fourth round at Roland Garros
- Post a 5-1 record against top-20 opponents
"It's been an incredible journey back," Tauson reflected. "Last year at this time I was playing ITF events, just trying to stay healthy. My team never stopped believing, and now we're seeing all that work pay off. But we're not satisfied yet - there's still so much more I want to achieve."
Keys Left Searching for Answers
For Keys, the loss marked another disappointing result at a tournament where she's historically excelled. The American committed 32 unforced errors against just 18 winners, struggling to find rhythm against Tauson's relentless pressure. "Clara played lights out today," Keys admitted. "She didn't give me any free points, and every time I tried to step in, she had an answer. I'll need to go back and work on a few things before Cincinnati."
Tactical Breakdown
Tennis analysts highlighted several key factors in Tauson's victory:
- Consistent depth on backhand returns that neutralized Keys' serve
- Effective use of drop shots to disrupt Keys' baseline rhythm
- Improved first serve percentage (68%) compared to her season average (58%)
- Mental toughness in saving all four break points faced in the second set
Looking Ahead to the Semifinals
Tauson will face either world No. 1 Iga Świątek or Olympic champion Belinda Bencic in Friday's semifinal. The Dane trails both players in their head-to-head records (0-2 vs Świątek, 0-1 vs Bencic), but her coach, Olivier Jeunehomme, believes she's ready for the challenge. "Clara's game has evolved tremendously this year," he said. "She's developed weapons to trouble anyone when she's playing like this. The key will be maintaining this level under even greater pressure."
With the win, Tauson is projected to rise to a new career-high ranking inside the top 25. More importantly, she's proving herself as one of the tour's most dangerous floaters heading into the US Open. As she put it after the match: "I'm not here just to participate anymore. I believe I belong with the best, and I'm ready to show it."