Cincinnati Masters 2014: Maria Sharapova impressed by Madison Keys

Maria Sharapova was impressed by Madison Keys’s performance in their second-round clash at Cincinnati Masters after the fifth seed won in three sets.

The French Open champion took just under two hours to get past the highly-rated 19-year-old American, sealing a 6-1 3-6 6-3 win at the Western & Southern Open.

I’m really quite impressed. She’s done very well this year

Maria Sharapova

And five-time Major winner Sharapova reserved special praise for Keys’s serve after the world number 28 won 66 per cent of points on her first serve.

“For a 19-year-old to be serving in the 120s is really impressive,” Sharapova told WTA’s site.

“I’m sure when she develops the consistency in the serve it’s going to be an important factor.

“But to have the strength and power to be able to do that is great. I’m really quite impressed. She’s done very well this year.”

Sharapova added that she didn’t think about her loss to Sloane Stephens at the same stage of the Cincinnati Masters last year.

“I didn’t think about it too much, actually,” Sharapova added. “So that was good.”

Elsewhere, world number two Simona Halep was a 6-4 6-2 winner against Kirsten Flipkens, whilst No12 seed Caroline Wozniacki beat Heather Watson’s conqueror Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-3.