10 Things You Need To Know About Madison Keys
SINGAPORE – In 2016, Madison Keys has continued her upward career trajectory, reaching the second week of all four majors and establishing herself in the Top 10. Next stop: Singapore.
1. Dazzling Debut.
Madison Keys is making her debut at BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
2. Peak Performance.
It is the culmination of a career-best season. She broke into the WTA Top 10 in June, becoming the first American to enter the elite ranking bracket since Serena Williams in 1999.
3. Hitting the Heights.
After a wonderful Asian Swing, Keys reached a career-high ranking of World No.7 on Monday, October 10 following her run to the semifinals at the China Open.
4. Tremendous on Tour.
It all follows terrific achievements on tour: a second WTA title, at the Aegon Classic Birmingham, runner-up slots at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia and Rogers Cup, plus quarterfinals at the Miami Open and Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.
5. Amazing Americans.
Keys is flying the flag for the USA at the pinnacle of women’s tennis – along with the Williams sisters. All three of them were top ten seeds at Wimbledon this year: the first time there had been three American women seeded at a Slam since the 2005 US Open. When she played Serena in Rome, it was the first all-American final there since 1970, and the first all-American clay-court WTA final since Roland Garros in 2002.
6. Slam Success.
She was one of just four players to reach the round of 16 at all of the Grand Slams this year – showing she is really getting to grips with the big occasions.
7. Going the Distance.
She’s also dramatically improved her record in matches that go the distance – in 2016 she’s 17-6 in three-setters. That’s a marked contrast to her record in 2015 (7-8) and 2014 (6-10).
8. Tying it Up.
Keys currently boasts an impressive 2016 track record in tie-breaks – winning 14 of them.
9. On the Climb.
Keys has been on a sharp upward trajectory – 2015 was her first season in the WTA Top 20 rankings. The two years previously had seen her in the top 40 – with 2014 including a win at Eastbourne.
10. Teenage Dream.
21-year-old Keys has been on the circuit since she was a teenager. In 2009 she played her first WTA event as a wildcard at Ponte Vedra Beach, reaching the second round, and in the process becoming the seventh-youngest player ever to win a WTA match at the age of 14 years and 48 days, beating Alla Kudryavtseva.