Australian Open Champion Keys Upset by Zarazua in US Open First Round

Madison Keys, the sixth-seeded Australian Open champion, suffered a surprising first-round loss at the US Open to Mexico's Renata Zarazua, marked by debilitating nerves and a high number of unforced errors. Keys admitted that her anxiety was paralyzing during the match, leading to 89 unforced errors and 14 double faults in the three-set defeat, which lasted over three hours. Despite previous strong performances at Flushing Meadows, including a final in 2017 and semifinal runs, Keys struggled to separate her nerves from her game, resulting in slow reactions and poor decision-making. Zarazua, ranked 82nd and with no prior wins over top-10 players, achieved a career-defining upset, becoming the first Mexican to knock out a top-10 seed at a major since 1995. Keys attributed part of her difficulties to the cumulative toll of a gruelling season with limited time for rest and training, which affected her balance and performance. The loss marks Keys as the highest seeded women's casualty at the tournament so far and highlights the ongoing challenge of managing pressure even for top players.