19-year-old Madison Keys aims to stun Serena Williams in Australian Open semis

Nick McCarvel | Special to USA TODAY Sports

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MELBOURNE, Australia -- In September of 2002, the last time two Americans played one another in a Grand Slam semifinal, Madison Keys was just starting the first grade.

Now 19 and all grown up, Keys will take on world No. 1 and 18-time major champion Serena Williams in a match that will break that 13-year drought.

"It definitely feels amazing," the Illinois native told reporters Wednesday after defeating Serena's sister, Venus, in a three-set quarterfinal.

"It's one of those things where you want to feel this way all the time," the world No. 35 continued, flashing her toothy smile. "It's not, you know, this unbelievable excitement either because (I) want to keep winning."

Not since the 2009 U.S. Open has one player beaten the Williams sisters back-to-back at a major, Kim Clijsters doing that six years ago en route to her first Grand Slam trophy.

That fact isn't lost on Keys, who has never played Serena in her young career.

"It's just one of those things where I have to go out, and I have to do my best and really just have to stay focused on my side of the court, because she's obviously very, very good," Keys said. "So if I get too focused on what she's doing I think I can kind of let the moment get away from me."

On Keys' side is former world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, a coaching relationship that began in October that has given her a shot of confidence. Davenport had a tepid 4-11 record against Williams, including that aforementioned all-American U.S. Open semifinal (which Davenport lost), way back in 2002.

"I'm sure she does," said Serena, when asked if Davenport perhaps had insight on how Keys could beat her. "I would hope so."

But what Serena won't hope for is anything less than a win, which would put the 33-year-old American into her 23rd major final.

Her opponent Tuesday, Dominika Cibulkova, painted the world No. 1 the most dangerous server and returner in women's tennis: When she's on, watch out.

"(You) feel under a bigger pressure on serve," said the Slovakian, who was a finalist here a year ago. "She tries to make the rallies much shorter and not (let you) in the rhythm."

Keys, for her own part, plays first-strike tennis, too. It's a game modeled after the power that the Williams sisters helped usher into this sport over a decade ago, along with players like Davenport.

"Madison hits a really clean ball," added American player Bethanie Mattek-Sands, a friend of Keys'. "She serves huge. She runs around that forehand crosscourt and can really set herself up. She can dictate and is playing with so much confidence right now."

Madison Brengle, an American who Keys beat in the fourth round, put it more succintly: "She has a great, great serve."

Keys has been serving notice around the tennis world for much of her teenage life. In 2009, she beat Serena 5-1 in a World Team Tennis exhibition set, a "win" that propelled her to next-big-thing status.

A New Orleans Saints fanatic and recent Los Angeles transplant, Keys is a Soul Cycle regular, can't stop watching "Game of Thrones" and is first to throw in a quip whenever she gets the chance.

How has she been celebrating her success in Australia? One journalist asked.

"Well, I've been eating Tim Tams," Keys deadpanned, citing the famous (and delicious) Australian cookie.

Keys is a serious tennis threat, however, including against Serena on Thursday.

"I am very happy, and I am very excited, but also not getting too far ahead of myself and being too content where I am," she said.

The winner of Keys-Williams will face Maria Sharapova or her Russian compatriot Ekaterina Makarova in the final. No American other than Serena has made a Grand Slam final since Venus did at Wimbledon in 2009. (Serena won that all-Williams final.)

Will Serena ask big sister for some advice on how to play Keys?

"Oh, for sure I'll ask," said the world No. 1, then adding about Keys: "She's playing great. I told her I was really happy that she did well. It's good to see another American, another African-American, in the semifinals playing so well. Regardless, there's going to be an American in the finals, so that is great."

It's a match that first-grade Madison, herself a Williams sisters fan, would want to win, too.