🎾 WTA Charleston: Madison Keys vs Caroline Dolehide – Match Preview

🎾 WTA Charleston: Madison Keys vs Caroline Dolehide – Match Preview

🧠 Form & Context

Madison Keys

• 🔥 Grand Slam momentum: 2024 Australian Open champion, winning five three-set matches including a final vs. Sabalenka.
• 🏆 16-match win streak: Ended in Indian Wells (SF); showed possible signs of fatigue in a Miami loss to Eala.
• 🌿 Charleston dominance: Champion in 2019, finalist in 2015—has a proven track record on green clay.
• 💥 Power translates: Though a hard-court player by nature, her game adapts well to faster clay.

Caroline Dolehide

• 🎯 Solid but steady: Reached QF in Austin and R3 at Indian Wells; beat Cocciaretto in R1 here.
• 📉 Form dip: Peaked at No. 41 in 2023 after strong fall season but hasn't matched that in 2024.
• 📍 Charleston comfort: Eighth appearance here with a 3R best (2023).
• ⛔ Top-10 trouble: 0–8 career record vs. Top-10 opponents.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Keys enters with momentum and elite firepower. Her aggressive first-strike style suits Charleston's low-bouncing green clay, allowing her to shorten points and avoid long exchanges where errors could creep in. She’ll look to dominate with her serve and forehand.

Dolehide has some tools—namely a strong serve and topspin forehand—but often struggles when pushed defensively. Against Keys, she’ll need to extend points, test her rhythm, and hope for unforced errors. But consistently doing so against a Grand Slam champion in form is a tall order.

While their past meetings are years old, Keys won both, and the matchup still favors her game style today.

🔮 Prediction

Pick: Madison Keys in straight sets. Unless fatigue lingers from Miami, she should overpower Dolehide with experience, pace, and confidence. Dolehide’s wait for a Top-10 win may continue.