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Keys 1st American in WTA Finals since Williams sisters

FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2016 file photo, Madison Keys of the United States serves against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during the women's singles quarterfinals of the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing. Keys is the first American outside of Serena and Venus Williams to earn a berth at the year-end WTA Finals in more than a decade. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2016 file photo, Madison Keys of the United States serves against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during the women's singles quarterfinals of the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing. Keys is the first American outside of Serena and Venus Williams to earn a berth at the year-end WTA Finals in more than a decade. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2016 file photo, Madison Keys of the United States serves against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during the women's singles quarterfinals of the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing. Keys is the first American outside of Serena and Venus Williams to earn a berth at the year-end WTA Finals in more than a decade. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

By Associated Press 3 min read

SINGAPORE (AP) – Madison Keys is the first American other than Serena and Venus Williams to earn a berth at the year-end WTA Finals in more than a decade.

The last American outside of a Williams at the finals was Lindsay Davenport, a former coach to Keys, in 2005.

Keys’ debut in the WTA Finals, starting on Sunday, came courtesy of her winning a second career title in Birmingham, England, and reaching finals at Rome and Montreal.

She also played in the Olympic semifinals, losing to Petra Kvitova for the bronze medal.

“Being here is a huge accomplishment for me,” Keys said. “I definitely want to … prove that I’ve worked really hard to get here, and I’m here for a reason.”