Abu Dhabi
AO title is suddenly a jinx for unlucky Keys
Last month’s breakthrough Grand Slam title at the Australian Open has turned into a curse for Madison Keys after the January title winner withdrew from her third straight post-Melbourne tournament.
The 29-year-old American was riding the wave at Melbourne Park after upsetting world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka with a three-set win in the final just over 10 days ago.
But the newly-hyped seventh-ranked Keys was then forced to withdraw from the WTA minor event in Austin under a rule which allowed only one already entered top 10 player (Jessica Pegula) in the field at that event level.
Keys accepted her fate but was then forced out of this week’s 500 event in Abu Dhabi by the hamstring injury which has forced her to pull from the 1000-level Dubai tournament starting February 17 in the emirate.
Keys will be hoping for fitness in time to play the American 1000 pair in Indian Wells and Miami next month.