Keys to the city as American bludgeons her way into Brisbane final

It has been a good week for the Americans in Brisbane. Jennifer Brady, who defeated Ash Barty, had a tournament to remember and Alison Riske fought tooth and nail against Karolina Pliskova in the quarter-finals.

Madison Keys has put the icing on top for the US, booking a spot in Sunday's final on Pat Rafter Arena after a three-set win over Pliskova that has set up her summer nicely, regardless of the result.

Key moment: Madison Keys celebrates defeating Petra Kvitova.Credit:AAP

Like her countrywoman Brady, the 24-year-old didn't do home fans any favours when she took out Sam Stosur in the second round. She would go on with it in fine style, dropping the first set against the sixth-seeded Czech before rattling off nine of 10 games to complete a 3-6 6-2 6-3 triumph.

It was her first win over a top-10 opponent since she beat Simona Halep in Cincinnati last year. She went on to win that event, her first Premier title, and now stands to move up to No.11 in the world when the rankings are recalibrated on Monday.

Keys has been a model of consistency on tour, being ranked in the top 20 for five years running on track for a sixth. But she needed to dig deep after being down a set and a break against the world No.7, who looked an all-out winner to make the final and try to repeat her 2011 title victory in Queensland.

The world No.13 seed couldn't rely on her huge serve as southpaw Kvitova climbed into it in the early exchanges. But a chat to coach Juan Todero helped to swing the momentum as Keys, an Australian Open semi-finalist five years ago, assumed control.

Kvitova found another gear, breaking twice in a see-sawing final set. But Keys unloaded from the baseline and forced Kvitova to miss a low volley to land the crucial break before she came from 0-30 to serve out the match in exactly two hours.

She will play Naomi Osaka or defending champion Karolina Pliskova – the world No.4 and No.2 respectively – in Sunday afternoon's final. That duo was locked into an epic battle on Pat Rafter Arena late on Saturday night.

Kvitova made the Australian Open final last year and looks on track for another quality tournament once she gets to Melbourne. She has become one of the greatest comeback stories in the sport after she was injured during a violent home invasion in 2016.

She suffered a horrible cut to her hand and two years after could still not feel two fingers in her hand. But she returned to become a constant presence in the women's top 10 and shapes as one of the hopes in a wide Australian Open later this month.

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