Keys Admits She’s Struggling After Devastating Loss to Zheng at US Open

Madison Keys opened up about her struggles after a tough loss on Day 7 on the US Open.

Chris OddoSeptember 5, 20262 minute learn

Madison Keys was one level away from the fourth spherical of the US Open on Saturday. By some means, she ended the day questioning how tennis had develop into so tough once more, after falling to Zheng Qinwen, 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-5. 

Keys led Zheng 5-0 within the third set and held a match level within the sixth sport, solely to observe the match unravel in a surprising defeat. Afterwards, Keys was clearly shaken, and acknowledged that the grind of the tour — and a battle that has been constructing for months — has taken a toll.

“I really feel like I clearly obtained off to a very good lead, after which I simply obtained actually — I imply, obtained actually scared, like I couldn’t swing,” she stated. “Tennis simply feels actually arduous proper now, so I really feel like that form of took over.”

It was a hanging admission, significantly given the place Keys was mentally lower than two years in the past.

She started 2025 by profitable the Australian Open, her first Grand Slam title, and spoke on the time about lastly letting go of the strain she had carried for years — the sensation that she wanted to win a serious and obtain at a sure degree to validate her profession.

Some 20 months later, in a wierd approach, Keys finds herself wrestling with that burden once more.

“I simply really feel like I’ve form of been struggling for some time now, and I really feel like I used to be capable of form of play via it for a bit,” she stated. “I’m positive everybody might form of see that I used to be struggling a bit bit, however inside it felt in all probability even larger than that.”

Keys stated the issue has been constructing, however the relentless nature of the tennis calendar made it straightforward to maintain pushing it apart.

“It’s simply to the purpose the place I really must do one thing about it,” she stated.

It was a stark reminder of how tough it may be for even essentially the most completed gamers to flee the chase for outcomes — and the load of their very own expectations and everybody else’s.