Keys downs Wozniacki to claim Charleston crown

Charleston - Madison Keys claimed the first clay court title of her career on Sunday with a straight sets defeat of Caroline Wozniacki in the final of the Charleston Open.

World No 18 Keys, who had not reached a WTA final since her defeat to Sloane Stephens at the US Open in 2017, took 1 hour and 46 minutes to complete a 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 win over Danish fifth seed Wozniacki.

It marked the fourth title of Keys career and her first since winning at Stanford in 2017.

Her win also completed a superb week in South Carolina, where she defeated three Grand Slam champions - Jelena Ostapenko, Stephens and Wozniacki - to take the title.

After winning a close opening set on a tiebreak, Keys took control of the second set with a stroke of good fortune.

A netcord earned her a break to go 4-2 up, and from there she was not going to surrender the initiative and duly closed out the set to complete the win.

Result of WTA Tour's Charleston Open final on Sunday (x denotes seed):

Final

Madison Keys (USA x8) bt Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x5) 7-6 (7/5), 6-3