Madison Keys, struggling with injury, out of Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia – A breakout performer here a year ago, Madison Keys, the 20-year-old American, was knocked out of the Australian Open by qualifier Zhang Shuai as she was badly hampered by a left hip injury.
China’s Zhang, ranked No. 133, won 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 after Keys called for the trainer early in the second set. Keys, a semifinalist here in 2015, could barely move for much of the second half of the match, fighting back tears and bending over in pain between points.
It’s a devastating end to what had been another solid run for Keys in Melbourne. Two nights ago she beat No. 20 seed Ana Ivanovic, a former world No. 1, in a bizarre match that included a 45-minute delay while Ivanovic’s coach was treated in the arena after collapsing.
It is Keys’ body that has collapsed as of late. Earlier this month she pulled out of her season-opening tournament in Sydney with an elbow injury. Injuries in 2015 included her left adductor, left wrist and right shoulder.
“I did it at the end of the first set and it just got worse and worse. I think it’s a pulled or torn adductor,” Keys said of her injury.
She added that an abdominal injury that she felt against Ivanovic on Saturday night was aggravated during this match, as well.
“I hate retiring,” Keys explained. “You don’t want to do that to someone who is trying to get into the quarterfinals. I thought maybe I could figure it out and somehow get through and somehow have a day off and try, but obviously that didn’t happen.”
Zhang had gone through the qualifying and then won her first-ever main draw match at a major with a first-round upset over No. 2 seed Simona Halep, having lost in her previous 14 Grand Slam appearances.
The Chinese 27-year-old next meets Johanna Konta, the British upstart, in an unseeded quarterfinal matchup. Her half of the draw also includes two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka and No. 7 seed Angelique Kerber.
Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will meet in their quarterfinal Tuesday on the top half of the draw, while Agnieszka Radwanska takes on Carla Suarez Navarro.
Keys, the No. 15 seed, double faulted on the last two points of the second set, walking gingerly to her chair as she attempted to fight back tears and covered her face with a towel.
She continued through the third set, however, alternating between hitting the ball as hard as she could and barely being able to move on court as her injury appeared to worsen.
Keys’ exit means Williams, the No. 1 seed and six-time champion here, is the lone American remaining in the Australian Open after John Isner bowed out on Monday, as well.
Zhang closed out the match when Keys hit a forehand long, the two meeting at the net and shaking hands, Zhang patting Keys on the shoulder. It was Zhang’s fifth career win over a top 20 opponent, and marked perhaps the biggest victory of her career.
Keys left the court with her face in a towel, limping down the hallway of Rod Laver Arena as she cried.
“Bad luck for Madison,” Zhang said on court. “I’m very lucky today. It was so difficult to concentrate.”
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