(Video) Madison Keys Hits the Worst Overhead Smash of the Australian Open Against Jessica Pegula

Madison Keys is on the brink of dropping out of the WTA top 10 after exiting the Australian Open.

(Video) Madison Keys Hits the Worst Overhead Smash of the Australian Open Against Jessica Pegula

Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys (X/Tennis Channel/Madison Keys/Edgeai)

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Madison Keys’ hopes of defending the Australian Open were squashed after losing to her close friend Jessica Pegula at the Rod Laver Arena. The former World No.5 was seeking to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament, but after her poor performance against Pegula, she crashed out in the round of 16, leaving her on the brink of leaving the WTA top 10 next week.

In the all-American encounter in Melbourne, Pegula raced to an early lead 3-1, breaking Keys once as she dominated the encounter. Pegula then went on to win the fifth game, giving her an incredible lead as Keys failed to cope with her service game style, while striking forehand shots with more precision.

Keys was down 1-4 (0-15) when she hit a good serve that forced Pegula to scramble for a return. Pegula’s backhand return gave Keys a chance to strike the ball for the point winner as it ballooned in the air. But the 30-year-old shockingly hit the ball with the top of the racket’s frame, sending it out wide.

The defending champion looked in the air in disappointment after losing the point before walking back to her baseline shaking her head in despair. The replay showed that she failed to time the dropping ball as she was very eager to strike it. However, she tried to regroup herself and went on to win the sixth game.

But the match was already over for Keys as her friend, Pegula, took advantage of her mistakes despite playing well. Keys hit 26 winners, 12 more than Pegula, who won the match. Key’s undoing was her second serve as she won just seven of the 22 points and was broken twice in each set. Also, she hit 28 unforced errors.

Pegula completed the impressive 6-3, 6-4 victory after just an hour and 18 minutes on the court to cement her place in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. Also, it was her first win over Keys in almost two years. Keys had a head-to-head record of 2-1 ahead of their clash and had won their last two meetings.

In the quarter-finals, Pegula will face Amanda Anisimova, who defeated China’s Xinyu Wang in straight sets on Monday (January 26), which means it will be another all-American clash. Anisimova has been to two consecutive Grand Slam finals and has failed to win any of them, while Pegula has not reached a major final since losing to Aryna Sabalenka at the 2024 US Open.

Madison Keys admits she remains proud of herself despite the Australian Open exit

Madison Keys’ loss to Jessica Pegula means that she hasn’t ever beaten a top 10 player since beating Aryna Sabalenka at the 2025 Australian Open final. It is the eighth time in a row that she has been beaten by top 10 players and that makes it worrisome for the American star. Also, she has not reached a tour-level final since winning the Melbourne Grand Slam.

Madison Keys Queen's Club Championships 2025
Madison Keys (Image via Queen’s Club Championships)

The last time she reached the semi-finals of a tournament was at the Queen’s Club Championships in June. Speaking after the loss in her press conference, Keys pointed out that she remains proud of herself despite not being able to reach her expectations at the 2026 Australian Open:

This is obviously not the way that I wanted things to end here, but I’m still really proud of myself. I think coming back, being the defending champion, dealing with all of the extra pressure and nerves, I’m just really proud of myself for how I handled it. It’s just one of those days where I feel like Jess beat me, and I can kind of walk away with my head held high.

Keys is projected to drop out of the top 10 next week for the first time in a year. She maintained her place in the elite group but has been far from convincing since joining them after winning last year’s Australian Open. Hopefully, she will regroup as the 2026 season continues and find her best form on the court.

Also Read: (Video) Jannik Sinner Couldn’t Stop Smiling Seeing his Doppleganger at the Australian Open