Veronika Kudermetova defeated Madison Keys 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the French Open on Monday.
The Russian prevented Keys from entering the quarterfinals to advance to her own Grand Slam final for the first time.
Keys advanced to the semifinals in Paris in 2018 and at the Australian Open earlier this year. She cruised through the opening set before the wheels came off in the second.
Kudermetova now faces fellow Russian Daria Kasatkina in the quarterfinals.
“Sometimes I tried to play harder, sometimes with the spin, a little smarter. I did a good job today,” she said after the match Monday.
Kasatkina’s 6-2, 6-2 win over Camila Giorgi also represents her best showing in a Grand Slam.
Americans Sloane Stephens and Coco Gauff have already advanced to the French Open quarterfinals.
–Field Level Media