Madison Keys opened her 2024 season in spectacular style, claiming her ninth profession WTA title on the Adelaide Worldwide. Going through fellow American and match prime seed Jessica Pegula in Saturday’s remaining, Keys prevailed in a hard-fought 6-3 4-6 6-1 victory.
Regardless of encountering an higher leg harm halfway via the match, Keys discovered one other gear within the deciding set, leaving Pegula little room to counter. The win additionally marked Keys’ thirtieth profession victory over a High 10 participant.
Keys, ranked world No.20, was unstoppable all through the WTA 500 match in Australia. She powered previous powerful opponents, together with Beatriz Haddad Maia, Jelena Ostapenko, and Daria Kasatkina, earlier than going through Liudmila Samsonova within the semifinals, a match that ended prematurely as a consequence of Samsonova’s harm.
Returning to Adelaide for the primary time since her 2022 triumph, when the occasion was a WTA 250, Keys expressed her fondness for town in the course of the trophy ceremony. “I feel so lucky to be back here. Last time, I lifted the trophy, and now I’m holding it again. Clearly, this place is special for me, and maybe I should keep coming back!” she stated with a smile.
The ultimate started with Keys dictating play, as she raced via the opening set in simply 31 minutes. Nonetheless, the momentum shifted early within the second set when Pegula surged forward 4-0. Throughout this stretch, Keys left the courtroom for a medical timeout, returning along with her higher left leg closely taped.
Although Pegula capitalized to stage the match at one set apiece, Keys regrouped within the third set. Her serve and stable baseline play returned in full drive, as she broke Pegula twice and closed the match in fashion.
Keys’ highly effective efficiency was mirrored within the numbers. She fired 10 aces and struck 26 winners, whereas limiting Pegula to simply six. Throughout the post-match ceremony, Pegula counseled her opponent, saying, “You hit the ball harder than anybody. I think I maybe hit three winners, I don’t know, but it was tough. You’ve been playing amazing all week.”
With this title below her belt, Keys now shifts her focus to the Australian Open, the place she begins her marketing campaign on Tuesday towards compatriot Ann Li. Pegula, who opens towards Australian wildcard Maya Joint on Monday, may even be trying to carry her sturdy type into the season’s first Grand Slam. (supply: WTA, photograph: Jimmie48)
