Madison Keys has charged into the Brisbane International final after turning the tables on Petra Kvitova in a comeback semi-final victory.
Down a set and a break, the American won nine of 10 games on Saturday afternoon in a remarkable mid-match recovery against the tournament’s 2011 champion on her way to a 3-6 6-2 6-3 triumph.
She will play Naomi Osaka or defending champion Karolina Pliskova – the world No.4 and 2 respectively – in Sunday afternoon’s final.
The world No.13 and tournament’s eighth seed couldn’t rely on her huge serve as Kvitova, ranked five spots ahead, climbed into it in the early exchanges on a closed Pat Rafter Arena.
It moved the left-handed sixth seed within striking distance of an easy kill.
But a chat to coach Juan Todero helped to swing the momentum as Keys, an Australian Open semi-finalist five years ago, assumed control.
Keys, who had beaten Samantha Stosur in the second round and not dropped a set in her three previous matches, surged from 0-2 down to level proceedings.
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.