WATCH: Madison Keys BREAKS DOWN in tears during her press conference as she leaves the room within ‘2 minutes’ after ‘heartbreaking’ loss to Aryna Sabalenka at US Open

Madison Keys breaks down at post match press conference

WATCH: Madison Keys BREAKS DOWN in tears during her press conference as she leaves the room within ‘2 minutes’ after ‘heartbreaking’ loss to Aryna Sabalenka at US Open

Madison Keys (Credits: US Open)

Aryna Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed, defeated Madison Keys in three sets on Thursday, ending hopes of an all-American US Open final. Sabalenka will compete against Coco Gauff for the title. Keys, 28, dominated the opening set 6-0 before losing the next two in tiebreakers, 6-7 (1) and 6-7 (10-5).

During her post-match press conference, Keys let her emotions go unrestrained.“I think everyone at the start of the tournament would be really, really excited to be in the semis. Right now, it sucks,” Keys admitted, holding back tears.

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She continued, “I think being able to take this and turn it into a positive is really possible,” before pausing for 10 seconds to wipe her tears away. “There is much to be proud of, and there is still a lot of tennis to be played this season.”

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At that point, her interview came to a close, and Keys, the No. 17 seed, brushed away more tears as she walked off the stage. Tennis fans on social media rallied behind Keys following her brutally honest emotional outpouring.

Keep Exploring: Coco Gauff reveals how she ‘anticipated’ a protest happening at the US Open hours before it actually happened during her semifinal clash against Karolina Muchova

Madison Keys loses at the semi-final of the US Open

Madison Keys
Madison Keys (Credits: WTA)

Madison Keys’ powerful returns and groundstrokes left Sabalenka dazed throughout the first set and most of the second, as the 2017 finalist delivered a bagel in the first before grabbing a break in the second.

Her level, however, decreased at the worst conceivable time. Her game abandoned her as she served for a place in the final at 5-4, and she was broken to love. The set quickly went to a tie-break, which Sabalenka won 7-1 to tie the match. Keys led by a break again in the third set, 4-2, but quickly squandered her advantage as the most tumultuous of semi-finals headed to a 10-point match tie-break.

Sabalenka won the first four points and thought she had advanced to the final after a 7-3 lead, only to realize she needed three more points. Undaunted, she won on her third match point to complete a remarkable comeback and set up a tempting confrontation with youngster Gauff, who overcame Karolina Muchova in a semi-final delayed by climate protesters for 50 minutes.

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