What Happened to Madison Keys? Why Did Madison Keys Retire?
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Updated Jul 08, 2024
What Happened to Madison Keys?
Madison Keys had to retire from her fourth-round match at Wimbledon against Jasmine Paolini due to an upper left leg injury. Keys was leading the final set 5-2 when she sustained the injury. Despite the injury, she tried to continue, but her movement was impaired. During a switch of ends with the score at 5-4, she took a 10-minute medical timeout to get her leg bandaged. However, her condition did not improve, and she struggled to move effectively.
After returning to the court, Paolini broke Keys' serve immediately. When Paolini hit a drop shot that Keys couldn't chase, Keys was forced to retire from the match. The official match score was 6-3, 6-7(6), 5-5 Ret. This ended Keys' chance to reach her third Wimbledon quarterfinal.
Keys, 29, who is ranked No. 13 in the Women’s Tennis Association and was the 12th seed at Wimbledon, was visibly emotional and cried as she left the court. Paolini expressed sympathy for Keys during her post-match interview, acknowledging the difficult way the match ended. Paolini, ranked seventh in the WTA, will proceed to her first Wimbledon quarterfinal.
Why Did Madison Keys Retire?
Madison Keys retired from her fourth-round match at Wimbledon 2024 due to an injury. She was leading 5-4 in the final set against Jasmine Paolini and had a chance to serve for the match when she pulled a muscle in her left leg.
Despite a 10-minute medical timeout and trying to continue, Keys' movement was significantly impaired. Struggling and in visible pain, she eventually decided to retire from the match. Her withdrawal ended her bid for a third Wimbledon quarterfinal appearance, leaving her emotional as she exited the court.
Who is Madison Keys?
Madison Keys, born February 17, 1995, is an American professional tennis player known for her powerful serve and aggressive playing style. She reached her highest ranking of No. 7 in the world in October 2016. Keys competed in a Grand Slam singles final at the 2017 US Open and was a semifinalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She has won eight WTA Tour titles, including the prestigious 2019 Cincinnati Open.
Inspired by Venus Williams, Keys began playing tennis at a young age and trained at the Evert Tennis Academy in Florida. She turned professional on her 14th birthday and quickly made a mark by winning a WTA Tour match shortly after. Keys reached the top 100 in the WTA rankings at 17 and had her first major breakthrough by reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2015. She is considered one of the leading American tennis players of her generation.
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Attribute | Details |
Country (sports) | United States |
Residence | Orlando, Florida |
Born | February 17, 1995 (age 29) |
Birthplace | Rock Island, Illinois |
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
Turned pro | February 17, 2009 |
Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
Madison Keys Career
Here are the subheadings covering Madison Keys' career up to 2024:
2009–12: WTA Tour match win at age 14
- Turned pro in February 2009 at age 14
- WTA Tour debut and first win at Ponte Vedra Beach Championships
- Played World TeamTennis, beat Serena Williams in a set
- Played mostly on the ITF Circuit, won three singles titles
2013: Rising star, top 50 debut, top 10 victory
- Started the year ranked No. 149
- Reached first WTA quarterfinal at Sydney International
- Entered the top 100 after the Australian Open
- Defeated world No. 6 Li Na in Madrid
- Broke into top 50 after Wimbledon
2014: First career title
- Reached Premier semifinal at Sydney International
- Won first career title at Eastbourne International
- Finished the year ranked No. 31
2015: Major semifinal, top 20
- Began working with Lindsay Davenport
- Reached Australian Open semifinals
- Broke into top 20
- Reached Wimbledon quarterfinals
- Qualified for WTA Elite Trophy
2016: Two Premier 5 finals, No. 7, WTA Finals berth
- Reached fourth round at Australian Open
- Reached Premier 5 final at Italian Open
- Won second career title at Birmingham Classic
- Reached semifinals at Canadian Open
- Qualified for WTA Finals
2017: Injury struggles, US Open runner-up
- Had wrist surgery, missed Australian Open
- Won Stanford Classic
- Reached US Open final, lost to Sloane Stephens
2018: French and US Open semifinals
Reached semifinals at French Open
Reached semifinals at US Open
2019: Consistent results, Premier 5 title
- Won Premier 5 title at Cincinnati Open
- Reached quarterfinals at French Open
- Finished the year ranked No. 13
2020: COVID-19 pandemic impact
- Limited play due to COVID-19 pandemic
- Reached fourth round at Australian Open
2021: Return to form
- Reached fourth round at Australian Open
- Reached semifinals at Adelaide International
- Reached quarterfinals at Wimbledon
2022: Australian Open semifinal
- Reached semifinals at Australian Open
- Won Adelaide International
- Finished the year ranked in the top 10
2023: Solid performances, WTA 500 title
- Won WTA 500 title at Charleston Open
- Reached fourth round at Wimbledon
- Finished the year ranked in the top 15
2024: Strong start to the season
- Reached quarterfinals at Australian Open
- Won third title at Adelaide International
- Continues to compete at a high level on the WTA Tour
Madison Keys Age
Madison Keys, born on February 17, 1995, in Rock Island, Illinois, is currently 29 years old. Raised in a family of attorneys, including a father who excelled in basketball, she developed an early passion for tennis after watching Wimbledon at age four. Moving to Florida at ten, she honed her skills at the Evert Tennis Academy, transforming from a young player with a penchant for net play into a versatile, all-court competitor admired for her athletic prowess and well-rounded game.