Madison Keys undone by debilitating nerves in shock US Open defeat

NEW YORK – Madison Keys said the nerves she experienced in her first US Open appearance as a Grand Slam winner proved “paralysing”, after she was sent spinning out of the opening round on Aug 25.

The sixth seed notched up a staggering 89 unforced errors and made 14 double faults in her 6-7 (10-12), 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 defeat by Mexican Renata Zarazua in front of stunned fans in the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It was a disappointing finish to a Grand Slam season that began with her maiden Major title at the Australian Open and the 30-year-old said the jitters cost her dearly against her unseeded opponent.

“For the first time in a while, my nerves really got the better of me, and it became a little bit paralysing,” the American said.

“I felt like I was just slow, I wasn’t seeing things the way that I wanted to, which I feel resulted in a lot of bad decisions and lazy footwork. So I feel like that’s the summary.”

Three years ago, Keys spoke openly about the “dark pit of despair” that she was in when her career had stalled due to the suffocating pressure of trying to stay at the top level of the sport, and she said expectations weighed heavily on her again.

“I think it was probably building a little bit,” she added. “You always feel first-round jitters and, as the day gets closer, feel a little bit more and more nervous.

“But I feel for whatever reason today I couldn’t separate myself from the feeling that winning matters just way too much... Once you start playing badly, it just all snowballs.”

The 2017 US Open runner-up suggested that the gruelling season had also taken a heavy toll.

“As the year has gone on and on and on, there’s been a lot of matches. There hasn’t been a lot of time to reset and have training blocks and have time where you’re not competing, to get back to life and (find) the real balance of it all,” she said.

“It was a lot easier at the beginning of the year, because everything is fresh. Now I feel there’s been moments where you’ve been on the road longer, played a lot of matches, you haven’t had a lot of days off.

“Those are the days where things are just a little bit harder. I think those are the times when your bad habits rear their head.”

Meanwhile, Venus Williams showed flashes of vintage form under the lights at Arthur Ashe but, despite pushing Karolina Muchova to a deciding set, the 45-year-old American fell 6-3, 2-6, 6-1.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion was making a record-extending 25th main draw appearance in New York, where she won the title in 2000 and 2001, and delivered a spirited performance.

Williams said she does not expect to play again in 2025, citing a reluctance to travel, but was coy about whether she would consider seeking a place in the Australian Open next season.

“My goal is to do what I want to do. What did I prove to myself? I think for me getting back on the court was about giving myself a chance to play more healthy,” she said. “When you play unhealthy, it’s in your mind. It was nice to be freer.”

While Williams’ future remains to be seen, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova bade an emotional farewell to professional tennis after her first-round defeat.

The Czech, 35, returned to competition in 2025 following a 17-month maternity break and announced ahead of Wimbledon that she would call time on her career at the end of the US Open. She won 31 titles – including Wimbledon crowns in 2011 and 2014 – reaching a highest ranking of world No. 2.

She was beaten 6-1, 6-0 in her final match by France’s Diane Parry before shedding tears during an on-court ceremony to honour her.

“I think I would be proudest of many things, I’m very proud of how I handled the pressure, how many times I have been in the top 10. It was special,” Kvitova said.

“I was never world No. 1 but those two Grand Slam wins are above the ranking.” AFP, REUTERS