Keys Advances at US Open
Madison Keys overcomes rising star Alina Korneeva in tense US Open first round match.
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Key Points
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The first-round US Open match between Keys and Korneeva lasted 94 minutes, with Keys prevailing 7-5, 6-4 on Arthur Ashe Stadium after rain delays forced play under the roof.
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Korneeva, a 19-year-old rising star, had recently defeated Emma Navarro and Iva Jovic in Toronto, and she pushed Keys to tight sets; she also trains at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca.
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Keys has discussed the ongoing mental and emotional toll of Grand Slam nerves, including conversations with fellow American Jessica Pegula about anxiety ahead of big tournaments.
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She acknowledged the lingering memory of last year’s tough first-round loss to Renata Zarazúa, noting how returning to the same stage can amplify tension.
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Keys reflected on a life-long professional journey, highlighting that she turned pro at age 14 and has spent most of her life pursuing tennis, a perspective she shared amid her 15th US Open appearance.
Madison Keys, the 24th seed, defeated 19-year-old Alina Korneeva 7-5, 6-4 in a tense first-round match at the US Open. The 94-minute battle on Arthur Ashe Stadium saw Korneeva push hard, even saving a match point at 5-3 in the second set before Keys claimed her ticket to round two.
The victory marks Keys' 15th appearance at Flushing Meadows as she continues her long pursuit of a first US Open title. It also comes as a boost after she won the 2025 Australian Open and bounced back from a tough first-round loss last year that still weighs on her mentally.
Korneeva Pushes Back in Close Sets
Korneeva, a rising teenage star who recently beat Emma Navarro and Iva Jovic at Toronto, brought real resistance to the court. She trains at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca and showed the technical skill expected from that pedigree. Rain delays forced the match under the roof, but the conditions did not favor the younger player.
Keys had to grind through both sets without ease. The first set went to 5-5 before Keys broke through. In the second, Korneeva hung tough at 5-3, forcing Keys to save a match point and ultimately win the next two games to seal the win.
Keys Grapples With Grand Slam Anxiety
Keys has opened up about the mental and emotional weight of competing in Grand Slams. She and fellow American Jessica Pegula have discussed anxiety that builds before big tournaments. Keys described how returning to the same stage where she lost first-round matches in the past can amplify tension and self-doubt.
Last year's first-round loss to Renata Zarazúa left a mark. Keys acknowledged that slipping back into familiar patterns of worry remains a challenge. Yet she has worked to push through these feelings, viewing resilience as essential to her long-term pursuit of a major title.
A 15-Time Returner Still Chasing Her First Title
Keys turned pro at age 14 and has spent most of her adult life pursuing tennis. She reflected on that commitment during her 15th US Open appearance, noting how the journey shapes both her game and her mindset. The 2025 Australian Open victory showed she can still win at the highest level.
Now in round two, Keys faces a deeper run at a venue where she has never claimed the title. Each match at Flushing Meadows adds another chapter to her New York story—one she remains determined to complete with a breakthrough win.
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