Australian Open champion Madison Keys suffered a shock defeat by Mexico’s Renata Zarazua in the first round of the US Open, paying the price for an error-strewn performance.
The sixth seed’s first home major as a Grand Slam champion did not go to plan as she made 89 unforced errors in a 6-7 (10-12) 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 defeat.
Keys made 37 unforced errors in the first set alone but managed to take it on a tie-break after world number 82 Zarazua spurned five set points.
The match looked there for the taking for Keys as she breezed to a 3-0 lead in the next set, but the 2017 runner-up in New York then lost four consecutive games.
She managed to take the set to a tie-break, but Keys’ 13th double fault of the day handed Zarazua three set points, and the underdog only needed one.
Keys’ coach and husband Bjorn Fratangelo offered advice and encouragement throughout – at one point saying: “It’s just a sport, nothing’s riding on the line” – but the American’s play remained erratic.
The deciding set went with serve until Zarazua broke in the eighth game, but Keys broke back immediately.
However, it was not to be for 30-year-old Keys, who would have been targeting a deep run following her maiden major in Melbourne at the start of the year.
Zarazua secured her first victory against a top-10 player when Keys netted on match point, sparking wild celebrations among the Mexican’s support team after a contest lasting three hours and 10 minutes.