Keys makes quick work of Bencic in Indian Wells quarter-finals

Madison Keys erased Belinda Bencic in easy straight sets on Thursday in Indian Wells. Keys awaits either Aryna Sabalenka or Liudmila Samsonova.

Madison Keys in action at Roland-Garros (AI/Reuters/Panoramic)

Tennis Majors

March 13, 2025

BNP Paribas Open •Quarter-final • completed

See draw

B. BencicvsM. Keys

Madison Keys reached the last four of the BNP Paribas Open by beating wild card Belinda Bencic 6-1, 6-1 on Thursday afternoon. Keys cruised in one hour and four minutes at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Palm Springs, California.

The reigning Australian Open champion was ruthless from start to finish against Bencic, especially in the return game. She won more than 55 percent of the points even when her Swiss opponent put a first serve in the court. Keys earned six breaks while getting broken just once, herself.

Not letting up 💪@Madison_Keys takes out Bencic with an impeccable performance 6-1, 6-1 to reach the Indian Wells semis for the first time! #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/JOMFY7at5L
— wta (@WTA) March 13, 2025

“I think I played really well today,” Keys assessed. “(I) got off to a really good start and then kind of just ran with the momentum. Overall (it was) a good day…. The reality of winning as many matches as I have this early in a season hasn’t ever really happened for me, so I think there is definitely a lot of just kind of confidence from all those wins under your belt. I think it kind of gives me the confidence to, in really tight situations, just continue to go for kind of whatever I want to.”

The fifth-ranked American will next face the winner of a match between top-seeded Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka and 24th-seeded Russian Liudmila Samsonova.

Keys previously beat Russian Anastasia Potapova (6-3, 6-0), Belgian Elise Mertens, the No 28 seed (6-2, 6-7 (8), 6-4) and Croat Donna Vekic, the No 19 seed (4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-3).

Bencic, ranked No 58, made her way to the quarter-finals at the expense of German Tatjana Maria (6-1, 6-1), American Amanda Anisimova, the No 17 seed (6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1), Russian Diana Shnaider, the No 13 seed (6-4, 6-4) and American Coco Gauff, the No 3 seed (3-6, 6-3, 6-4).