By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Friday, July 4, 2025
Photograph credit score: Kirill Kudryatsev/AFP/Getty
Wimbledon—Late within the second set, Madison Keys got here nose-to-nose together with her nemesis at web.
Making an attempt to shut the hole on Laura Sigemund, Keys noticed the artful German loop a lob proper excessive into an expanse of inexperienced grass.
That change typified Siegemund’s 6-3, 6-3 upset of Keys on No. 2 Court docket immediately.
When the oldest girl nonetheless standing within the singles draw wasn’t dragging Keys into obscure areas, she performed over her head on pivotal factors.
The 37-year-old Siegemund received 12 of 15 web factors and broke 5 occasions to advance to the Wimbledon fourth spherical for the primary time.
“After all you cannot not be blissful if you beat an awesome participant like Madison,” Siegemund stated. “It was not simple immediately—circumstances have been windy and swirly at occasions not the highest quality, however on the finish I stored my nerves.
“There are all the time nerves. I feel in case you don’t have nerves on this second you might be most likely useless.
“So you’re taking a deep breath and simply sort of bear in mind what your technique is. There’s technically no strain for me. I attempt to keep in mind that I solely play for myself. I don’t really feel like I must show something anymore.”
This upset proved seeds stay on unstable floor.
The sixth-seeded Keys is the sixth High 10 seed to fall earlier than the fourth spherical. She joins No. 2-seeded Coco Gauff, third-seeded Jessica Pegula, fourth-seeded 2024 finalist Jasmine Paolini, fifth-seeded Zheng Qinwen and No. 9-seeded Paula Badosa in dropping from the draw.
That leaves solely world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, seventh-seeded Mirra Andreeva, eighth-seeded Iga Swiatek and No. 10-seeded Emma Navarro because the lone High 10 seeds nonetheless standing.
On paper, Keys was on a quarterfinal collision course with Sabalenka, however Siegemund flipped the script and shredded the highly effective American with slices and the brief, tender balls.
Nevertheless, immediately’s loss—to a two-time Wimbledon doubles quarterfinalist who had by no means been past the third spherical in six singles appearances—will probably sting Keys for a while.
A brave Keys saved match level at 5-6 surprising second-seeded Iga Swiatek 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(8) in a pulsating and wild comeback win that propels her into her first Australian Open ultimate. Then Keys dethroned two-time defending champion Arna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in an inspirational AO showdown pitting premier energy gamers that escalated into beautiful slugfest on Rod Laver Area.
At SW19, Keys conceded she “dodged a bullet” in her 6-7, 7-5, 7-5 win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse in spherical one, however by no means actually discovered the liberty in her recreation towards Siegemund.
US Open will recall Siegemund almost knocked off Coco Gauff on the 2023 US Open earlier than Gauff earned a grueling 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 victory.
Right this moment, Siegemund befuddled Keys with repeated drop photographs. The German sifted six clear drop shot winners and typically used the drop shot-lob mixture to bamboozle Keys as properly.
The quirky Siegemund presents a maddening psychological problem, too. Siegemund performs with two Yonex racquets—one to serve and one to obtain—repeatedly screams “Come on!” to grate on opponent’s serves and prefers operating the serve clock down proper to the very finish.
When Siegemund was hit with a time violation warning earlier than serving on her fourth match level, one fan screamed out “Thanks! Thanks!” cheering the chair umpire’s name.
Nonetheless, you must hand it to the 37-year-old Siegemund imposing her model of play on two-time quarterfinalist Keys. These drop photographs definitely took a toll as Keys was making an attempt to squeeze drives nearer to the strains typically pulling the set off prematurely in an effort to finish the purpose. Keys denied three straight match factors blasting a giant serve to carry for 3-5 within the second set.
Followers erupted as Keys opened a love-30 lead within the subsequent recreation—two factors from getting again on serve. Then Siegemund dabbed her sixth drop shot winner for 15-30. That devious drop-shot lob mixture froze Keys giving the German a fourth match level.
When Keys’ ultimate return went askew, Siegemund tossed her blue racquet apart and repeatedly jumped for pleasure.
