The talented #MadisonKeys experienced another stellar year but it could have been even better if not for a series of unfortunate injuries. “Unlucky” can definitely be used to describe the American’s career as she would have achieved much more had her wrist not broken down while she was playing some of her best tennis.
2018 was not an exception as Keys once again proved her credentials through reaching two Major semifinals and had a short stint in the top-10 but injuries overwhelmed the youngster once again.
Keys amassed a decent 29-14 (.674) win-loss record throughout the year, claiming three top-10 wins but also being defeated by players ranked outside the top-100 on four different occasions. Outside the Slams, the American only managed to reach two tour-level semifinals and she ultimately ended the year as the world number 17.
High Points of the Season
A former semifinalist in Melbourne, Keys returned to the Australian Open looking for more success this year especially with a favourable draw. She got past a tricky Wang Qiang in the opening round before strolling past other quality opponents, which included world number eight Caroline Garcia, to reach the quarterfinals. Although her run was stopped by Angelique Kerber, the American managed to return into the top-15.
A bleak stretch of results followed but Keys finally regained her form at the Volvo Car Open. Saving match points against Bernarda Pera, the hard-hitting youngster reached the last four but this time she was the one who blew match points against eventual champion Kiki Bertens. Keys also played a pivotal role in sending USA to the Fed Cup final with a win against Pauline Parmentier.
A career breakthrough came at Roland Garros when Keys stomped to the semifinals without losing a set along the way. She beat 20th-ranked Naomi Osaka and the giant-killing Mihaela Buzarnescu but eventually fell to Sloane Stephens, her conquerer in the US Open final as well. This impressive run pushed her back into the top-10 for the first time since the start of 2017.
Keys exceled on home turf at the Western and Southern Open, beating Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber for the first time in the past six tries to reach the quarterfinals. Another stellar run followed at the US Open, beating a series of dangerous opponents to make the last four for the second consecutive year but failed to take her chances against eventual champion Naomi Osaka there.
Low Points of the Season
Hard courts are where Keys was expected to excel on. However, she was bothered by several health issues once more during the Middle East tournaments. After an impressive Melbourne campaign, Keys was handed a shock second-round exit to Catherine Bellis at the Qatar Total Open before being forced to withdraw from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
The consecutive Premier Mandatory tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami were supposed to help Keys gain some valuable ranking points but she was stunned in the opening round of the BNP Paribas Open by Danielle Collins before retiring against Victoria Azarenka in her first match at the Miami Open due to a left hamstring injury.
Keys’ red clay journey started in some poor fashion as she was conquered by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a tough three-setter at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix before being upset by home favourite Sara Sorribes Tormo in the opening round of the Mutua Madrid Open.
On Keys’ most preferred surface, the American was tipped to do well at Wimbledon and was even labelled as a title contender. However, she was beaten by the unheralded Evgeniya Rodina in the third round and it ironically turned out to be her worst-performing Slam this year.
After yet another stellar Major campaign in Flushing Meadows, Keys’ season experienced a dip during the Asian Swing once more. She struggled with another thigh injury at the Wuhan Open; being forced to retire against Angelique Kerber in an anti-climatic blockbuster encounter. That same thigh injury also forced Keys to give a walkover in the second round of the China Open.
Amidst all her injury struggles, Keys competed at the WTA Elite Trophy held in Zhuhai and successfully qualified for the semifinals after a terrific straight-sets win against tenth-ranked Daria Kasatkina. However, just hours before her semifinal match against Garbine Muguruza, she had to withdraw due to her troubled thigh and end her season as a result.
Season Grade: B
It has been a terrific season for Keys at the Major tournaments, reaching the semifinals of Roland Garros and the US Open while also making the last eight at the Australian Open. She failed to put in consistent performances week in and week out, but cemented her spot inside the world’s top-20 throughout the entire 2018.
Had not been for injuries, it would have been a much better season for Keys who came so close to reaching the US Open final once more. Nonetheless, she still proved that she belongs to the best of the best through her dominating performances.
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