Keys ahead of 3rd round match: "No matter who wins, it's going to be a difficult match."

After winning the Western & Southern Open, Keys is currently one of the biggest favorites for winning the US Open. The American is in a great form and has managed to win the eighth consecutive match in a row. She has not lost a set at the US Open yet, and after winning 6-4 and 6-1 over Zhu, she said:

"I think I maybe started a little bit slow," Keys said. "I think some of that was just getting used to her and how she was playing.

"But I feel like after I got broken in the first set, I feel like I played some really good tennis. I was really happy with my performance today."

"I was able to watch some of her first round," Keys said. "I knew she was going to be a really good returner and get a lot of balls back. I knew things were going to come pretty fast and low. I was expecting that. Knew I had to just be really prepared, just know that a ton of balls were going to come back."

Keys also commented on her upcoming rival, either Laura Siegemund or in great form playing Sofia Kenin. Kenin is having a great season, moving up to 20th in the rankings and reaching the semifinals in Toronto and Cincinnati. It was the semifinals at the Western & Southern Open where she was defeated by Madison Keys on her way to the title.

"I think [Kenin] has been having a really great year, year and a half even," Keys said. "She is just really crafty. She knows how to take time away but knows when to take pace off and all that. She's just a really, really smart player.

"I think they're [both] very similar in some ways. I think Kenin maybe has a bit more firepower to her game. Same thing, Laura is super crafty, knows how to absorb pace really well, take time away. She's really good with her hands.

"No matter who wins, it's going to be a difficult match."

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