Venus rises again to meet Keys in generation clash

[January 26, 2015]  By Ian Ransom
 
 MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Evergreen Venus Williams turned back the clock at the Australian Open on Monday to book her first grand slam quarter-final in five years and set up an intriguing matchup with Madison Keys, the teenager touted as the future of American tennis.

Williams' 6-3 2-6 6-1 upset of Agnieszka Radwanska under the Rod Laver Arena lights proved there was still life in her 34-year-old legs and ensured the United States would have a third woman in the last eight after younger sister Serena edged Spaniard Garbine Muguruza in the day session.

Not since 2003 have three American women made it to the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park and 2004 was the last time at any grand slam.

Fittingly, the Williams sisters were the two U.S. women accompanying Meghann Shaughnessy into the last eight in Melbourne in 2003, with Serena, Jennifer Capriati and Lindsay Davenport making the quarters at the U.S. Open the following year.

Keys was four when a 19-year-old Venus captured the first of her seven grand slam titles at the 1999 U.S. Open. Now 19, she can reach her maiden semi-final in the majors with a win over Venus.

"It feels really good. My mom texted me before the tournament," Keys told reporters after defeating her namesake and compatriot Madison Brengle earlier in the day session.

"She said, 'it's your last grand slam as a teenager', and sent me a bunch of grandma faces.

"I'm like, 'thanks for reminding me, mom. Thank you. Love you. It's huge'. But it's my last slam as a teenager. I'm doing so well and hopefully I can keep it up."

Venus made her last quarter-finals appearance at a grand slam on her run to the 2010 U.S. Open semi-finals.

The following year she was diagnosed with Sjogren's, an auto-immune disease that can cause fatigue and joints pain, and has made her match-days a lottery.

"Things take time," Venus told reporters.

"Of course, I want to be playing deep in all my events. Everybody wants that. But it really just doesn't happen every time for everyone.

"Now is my moment and I want to keep this moment going all year and then next year too. But that will take work."

Keys and Venus played each other once, at Charleston in 2013, with Williams a straight sets winner.

Venus said she has no fear of Keys' younger legs.

"I think at this level the younger body doesn't help, per se. Everybody out here is ready to go.

"If you're here and you're playing this deep, it means that you've done the work and you're fit."

(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by John O'Brien/Alan Baldwin)

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