Cool Keys advances to Open quarters

US OPEN runner-up Madison Keys has reached the quarterfinals of the French Open for the first time by beating Mihaela Buzarnescu of Romania 6-1, 6-4 last night.

The 13th-seeded American had two match points at 5-2 and 40-15, but Buzarnescu fought back to break Keys and then clenched her fist after holding for 5-4.

Serving a second time for the match, Keys hit a superb crosscourt backhand winner to make it 40-15 and give herself another two chances for victory.

Seconds later, she threw her head back after serving a booming ace that flew past Buzarnescu before she could react.

Keys next faces either No.26 Barbora Strycova or Yulia Putintseva.

Meanwhile, Australian umpire John Blom has become embroiled in a Roland Garros bust-up with Gael Monfils as the local idol blew four match points in a French Open classic yesterday.

Monfils clashed with Melbourne’s Blom after being warned for taking too much time between points.

The 32nd seed later revealed that Blom had originally told him he was playing too quickly, a chain of events that caused Monfils to lose his cool.

“You know me, you know my temper,” Monfils said after walking around to Goffin’s side of the net to explain his frustrations.

Goffin held his nerve to post a dramatic 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win to secure a place in the fourth round.