Madison Keys ‘Freaking Pissed’ After Jessica Pegula’s Withdrawal Cost Her Spot in ATX Open Draw: “I’m the Victim”
World No.15 Madison Keys was forced to skip the ATX Open for the second time in a row.
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Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula (Image via X/Game, Set & Talk, Advantage Tennis)
- Madison Keys expressed frustration after Jessica Pegula's withdrawal from the ATX Open cost her a spot in the draw.
- Pegula's last-minute decision to withdraw followed her victory at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
- Keys has been denied entry to the ATX Open for two consecutive years due to ranking rules.
Madison Keys, after failing to defend her title at the Australian Open, skipped both the WTA 1000 events in the Middle East Swing, the Qatar Open, and the Dubai Tennis Championships. She wanted to play the ATX Open in Austin but was forced to skip the event for the second consecutive time.
As per the rules, only one top 10 player can feature in WTA 250 events. As Jessica Pegula is ranked higher than Keys, she got the chance to feature. But Pegula, following her success at the Dubai Tennis Championships, decided to withdraw from the Austin event. Her last-minute withdrawal upset Keys as she was once again denied entry into the event.
Pegula is ranked No.5th in the world, while Keys stands in the 15th spot, but because she was ranked inside the top 10 when the entry deadline ended, she was again forced to skip it. Keys and Pegula discussed the same during the latest episode of The Player’s Box podcast.
I had to pull out of Austin this week because tight turnaround from Dubai… Maddy must be absolutely livid… She did not get to play Austin after all.
Jessica Pegula said
Keys also wanted to play the ATX Open last year, and due to the same reason, she was denied the chance. She also asked for the wild card but was denied the same. Keys was so mad that she started to “rage emailing and texting” the WTA.
Freaking pissed that you won Dubai and pulled out. Once again, I’m the victim.
Madison Keys told Jessica Pegula
It was Pegula who stopped Keys from progressing to the quarterfinals of this year’s Australian Open. Pegula, after reaching the semifinals at Melbourne Park for the first time, lost to eventual champion Elena Rybakina.
In Dubai, Pegula defeated Elina Svitolina to win her career’s third WTA 1000 title. Keys, the winner of 10 singles titles from 15 finals, hasn’t yet won a title since last year’s Australian Open.
Next is the Indian Wells, where both players have yet to make the final. Keys made the last four for the first time last year, losing the match to eventual runner-up Aryna Sabalenka.
Pegula has yet to progress to the semifinals, reaching just one quarterfinal in 2021. She is also playing doubles along with McCartney Kessler, and they are scheduled to lock horns with Eri Hozumi and Wu Fang-Hsien in the first round.
Keys has one WTA 1000 title to her name. In 2019, she clinched the Cincinnati Open by defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova. Pegula and Keys have so far clashed in four matches, with both winning two each.
Madison Keys calls Hailey Baptiste a dangerous player at Indian Wells
During The Player’s Box podcast, Madison Keys backed lower-ranked American Hailey Baptiste to impress at Indian Wells. Baptiste has so far made three appearances in the third WTA 1000 of the season, and has yet to make the third round, losing to compatriot Danielle Collins in the second-round last year.
I am going to throw out Hailey Baptiste. I think Hailey’s game on those courts could be very dangerous. I think she is incredibly talented, but I think she has been playing some very good tennis. So I would not be surprised if she had a very good tournament.
Baptiste, however, has yet to win a singles title, though she has four ITF titles to her name. The only tour-level title that she has won is the 2021 Charleston Open doubles title, along with countrywoman Caty McNally.
In WTA 1000 events, Baptiste has produced her best by making the third round four times, including at the Miami Open last year. At Indian Wells, she will lock horns with Emiliana Arango in the first round.
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