Madison Keys had a rough start in her Mutua Madrid Open quarterfinal match against Ons Jabeur. She lost the first eight games, unable to find her rhythm while Jabeur played with freedom, making it difficult for Keys to settle in.
Keys finally got on the scoreboard, and that seemed to boost her confidence. She mentioned in a post-match interview that getting that first game helped her relax and play better tennis.
Jabeur was dominating with her shots, and Keys struggled, making ten unforced errors in the first set. Jabeur closed the set with an ace, leaving Keys scoreless for the first time since 2022. However, Keys didn’t give up. Despite Jabeur breaking her serve multiple times, Keys managed to hold her serve and started finding her groove.
As the match progressed, Keys began to raise her level, especially on her serve, while Jabeur started to feel the pressure. Keys fought back, breaking Jabeur’s serve and winning the second set. In the third set, Keys continued her momentum, breaking Jabeur early on and sealing the victory with a seven-game winning streak.
This win was significant for Keys, especially considering her past struggles in Madrid. She now faces the world No. 1, Iga Swiatek, in the semifinals, hoping to continue her impressive run in the tournament.
