Keys, Collins, Sakkari Off to Winning Starts in Charleston

KEYS NEEDS EIGHT MATCH POINTS TO CLOSE OUT DOLEHIDE

Defending champion Danielle Collins got out of the blocks in a hurry on Tuesday night at the Credit One Charleston Open, rolling past fellow American Robin Montgomery in one hour and eight minutes, 6-3, 6-1.

“You always want to go out and be able to do that, but it’s not always possible,” said Collins, who delighted in having her labradoodle Quincy courtside. “Today it was, and I was hitting my shots really well. I think I was timing the ball well, and I think you just have to kind of stick to your process and the things that you’re working on and then just keep focusing on that.”

American Madison Keys needed one hour and 42 minutes to defeat Caroline Dolehide, 6-3, 7-6(4), finally closing out her compatriot on her eighth match-point opportunity.

“I think I got a little bit passive and Caroline really raised her level,” said Keys, the 2019 Charleston titlist. “It’s obviously hard when you kind of feel like you’re at the finish line and then it slips away.”

Keys improved to 3-0 in the head-to-head series.

Madison Keys.

Maria Sakkari, a semifinalist here last year, overcame a sluggish 0-3 start to oust Canadian wildcard Marina Stakusic, 6-3, 6-2, in one hour and 28 minutes.

American Hailey Baptise was a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Australia’s Olivia Gadecki.

“First match on clay this year, so that was super exciting,” said Baptiste, who moves on to face Emma Navarro in Round 2. “It’s my favorite surface, and I’ve been really excited to get back on it. Played a pretty clean match. A little tough in the second set, but I was able to pull it out.”

Also advancing on Tuesday was eighth seed Amanda Anisimova of the U.S., who dismissed 2021 champ Veronika Kudermetova in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.

Hailey Baptiste.