Full Breakdown
Madison Keys Stages Dramatic Second-Round Comeback at the U.S. Open
9/5/2026, 8:38:02 PM
Match Details and Statistics
American Madison Keys rallied from match point down to defeat Poland’s Anna Bondar in a three-set thriller, winning 5-7, 6-4, 7-6. Keys saved five consecutive match points—four on Bondar’s serve and the final one on her own—by forcing a double-fault, a long second serve and a winner that clipped the racket frame. In the deciding tiebreak, Keys trailed 5-3 before winning the next seven points to close the match. The victory marks the fifth occasion since early 2025 that Keys has overturned a match-point deficit, and it is her first such comeback at the U.S. Open, where she debuted as a 16-year-old in 2011.
Keys’ Reflections on the Victory
Keys emphasized the mental shift that carried her through the comeback. She noted, “I think today, it was really just trying to remind myself that the match wasn’t over yet and there was still another point to be played.” After the final point, she described an odd forehand that struck the racket frame yet landed in-bounds, adding, “I hit everything but the strings.” In her post-match interview, she thanked the crowd, saying, “You guys got me through that match, and I’m so grateful.”
What This Means for Her U.S. Open Run
The win propels Keys into the third round, where she will meet China’s Qinwen Zheng. The comeback underscores Keys’ resilience and her ability to perform under extreme pressure, qualities that could prove decisive as the tournament progresses.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I think today, it was really just trying to remind myself that the match wasn’t over yet and there was still another point to be played,” — Madison Keys
- “I hit everything but the strings,” — Madison Keys
- “You guys got me through that match, and I’m so grateful,” — Madison Keys
