Madison Keys entered the US Open 2025 as one of the favourites, home turf, home crowd and an Australian Open trophy already in her bag. Her style of play, fast hands, explosive power and an affinity for hard courts, seemed perfectly suited. She began in her usual fashion, but Renata Zarazua of Mexico was ready. Staying deep, defending with grit and dragging Keys into long rallies, Zarazua forced the American to attempt winners, and Keys faltered.
Keys somehow scraped through the opening set, edging a dramatic tie-break 7(12)-6(10). The second too was decided in a breaker, this time going Zarazua’s way 7(7)-6(3). In the decider, Keys looked both desperate and frustrated, while Zarazua stuck to her plan of resilience, forcing the American to create at the net. Keys ran out of answers, losing 5-7. Earlier in the day, Daniil Medvedev had exited, but Keys’ loss at home was an even greater shock.
Unforced errors that forced Keys’ exit
Power players like Keys prefer short rallies, hunting the winner within the first five or six shots. Zarazua knew this well and extended points. It was a masterstroke. Keys, true to her instincts, kept going for the kill, but errors piled up. In the opening set, she racked up 37 unforced errors to Zarazua’s 14. In the second, it was 29 to 15. In the third, 23 to just 5. So why did Keys keep going for the winners? Out of habit? Not entirely. Look at the winners count: 21-2 in the first set, 12-3 in the second, 13-3 in the third. Keys was striking clean winners, but in chasing them, she bled far too many points.
Zarazua’s wrist work and Keys’ struggles at the net
Zarazua smartly used her wrists to take the pace off Keys’ thunderbolts, forcing the American forward. That left Keys uncomfortable, often sending the ball long or wide. Her net game faltered — she managed to win just 58% of points at the net.
Keys’ Slam season 2025
- Australian Open – Winner
- French Open – Quarter-final
- Wimbledon – Third Round
- US Open – First Round
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