Madison Keys Stuns Wimbledon 2025: Highlights, Reactions & What Comes Next

Lead American tennis star Madison Keys arrives in Montreal this week determined to reset her season at the Canadian Open—branded locally as the National Bank Open—after an unexpectedly early exit at Wimbledon. The world No. 6 and reigning Australian Open champion opens her hard-court swing on Wednesday against crafty German veteran Laura Siegemund, setting up a rematch of the third-round duel that stunned fans on Centre Court three weeks ago. Hard-Court History Favors Keys Keys has always treated North American hard courts like a personal playground. Seven of her 10 WTA titles have come on the surface, including her signature run to the 2019 Cincinnati crown and last year’s Charleston triumph. Montreal’s medium-paced Laykold courts reward first-strike tennis, the exact style that helped her blast 199 winners en route to January’s Melbourne title. A Tricky First Test Siegemund, however, presents a mental hurdle. The 36-year-old sliced and diced Keys off the Wimbledon lawns in straight sets, exposing the American’s discomfort with low-skidding backhand slices. “You have to be patient against Laura—you can’t just hit through her,” Keys admitted during media day in Quebec. She added that she and new full-time coach (and husband) Bjorn Fratangelo have spent the past week drilling transition footwork and short-angle forehands to counter Sieg­emund’s junk-ball arsenal. Expanded Draw, Condensed Calendar This year’s National Bank Open debuts the WTA’s new 96-player, 12-day format—mirroring Indian Wells and Miami—and Keys was candid about the adjustment. “We’re a bit on autopilot,” she said, noting the challenge of longer events squeezed into an already crowded summer schedule. Still, the format hands the top 32 seeds a first-round bye, buying Keys valuable practice time. Ranking & Race Implications At No. 6, Keys sits fourth in the Race to the WTA Finals, but only 600 points separate places four through nine. A deep Montreal run could all but lock her spot for Riyadh, while an early stumble would invite pressure at Cincinnati and the US Open. Defending champion Jessica Pegula is sidelined with a wrist issue, opening the top half of the draw and, potentially, Keys’ path to a maiden Canadian crown. What to Watch • Serve speed: Keys averaged 115 mph on first serves in Melbourne but dipped to 108 mph at Wimbledon. The extra bounce in Montreal should restore her biggest weapon. • Backhand drive vs slice: Expect Keys to step inside the baseline and flatten returns to avoid extended cat-and-mouse rallies. • Mental reset: Since her surprise Wimbledon loss, Keys has kept a low profile, posting only wedding-anniversary photos on social media. Her on-court body language in the opening games will reveal whether the reset worked. Broadcast & Streaming The match is slated for Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET on Court Central. In the United States, Tennis Channel and T2 carry live coverage, while Canadian viewers can watch on Sportsnet. International fans can stream via WTA TV, with ATP/WTA world-feed commentary. Looking Ahead If Keys clears Sieg­emund, she could face rising Czech teenager Linda Noskova before a projected quarterfinal with world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka—a blockbuster rematch of January’s Australian Open final. Keys is 4-3 lifetime against Sabalenka, including this year’s dramatic 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5) victory in Melbourne. Bottom Line Momentum matters in the three-event sprint from Montreal to New York, and no player embodies hot-and-cold streaks quite like Madison Keys. A statement start at the National Bank Open would not only avenge her Wimbledon slip-up but also announce that the 29-year-old remains a prime contender for a second Grand Slam this season.