Keys stays poised in three-set win over qualifier Blinkova in Paris

Once again, Madison Keys needed three sets to come away with a win at Roland Garros. But once again, it looked a lot closer than it was as she was in complete control of most of the match. On Saturday, the No. 14-seed American got past Anna Blinkova, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4.

Keys was firmly in the driver's seat in the first set with the 20-year-old Russian spraying too many errors—double what Keys struck. But Blinkova had already won five matches in Paris, coming through qualifying and upsetting French hopeful Caroline Garcia. Four of her five wins came in three sets, and three of those were from a set down.

So she was completely unperturbed by the first-set loss on Saturday, looking more sprightly and amped up with each point in the second set. Despite all that time on court, she still had the energy to hit extra practice forehands with spare balls at full power to the other side after points were already over. It adds to her intimidation factor, and sends a clear message to her opponent: She's not giving up.

But Keys was very familiar with her position too. She dropped the second set to Priscilla Hon in the round prior, and just needed to reign in her errors. In the third set, she took control, and completely subdued Blinkova as she raced to 4-1.

Blinkova stayed in the match, but she just delayed the inevitable, managing only two winners, while Keys ripped 15. Though ranked No. 117, Blinkova seems poised for a big breakthrough if she can control her tempo of play for an entire match, not just a set.

Meanwhile, Keys moves on to the fourth round where she faces not Naomi Osaka but Katerina Sinakova. Siniakova dismissed the world No. 1, 6-4, 6-2.