July 10, (THEWILL) – American tennis player, Madison Keys, staged a remarkable comeback to defeat 16-year-old Russian sensation, Mirra Andreeva, at Wimbledon on Monday.
Keys, ranked 18th in the world, fought back from a set and 4-1 down to claim victory in a thrilling encounter for the fans. Andreeva had been aiming to become the youngest Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 26 years but fell short as Keys triumphed 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2. The match concluded on a controversial note when Andreeva received her second code violation for slamming her racket into the ground, resulting in a penalty point that handed match point to Keys.
Andreeva, who had previously qualified for the main draw of a Grand Slam event at the French Open, started strongly, breaking Keys three times in the opening set. The young Russian remained in control in the second set, holding a 3-0 lead. However, Keys mounted a comeback, saving break points and recovering the break to force a tiebreaker. Frustration got the better of Andreeva, leading to her first code violation for throwing her racket at her chair.
In the decisive third set, Keys took an early lead and closed out the match, saving eight of 12 break points. Keys acknowledged Andreeva’s talent, stating: “I knew she’s a phenomenal player. I knew I had to stay in the match and get an opportunity to break back. I got the momentum and kept going.”
The American player admitted feeling the pressure of facing a qualifier and expressed relief at avoiding being the first player to lose to Andreeva in her quest for a maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal. Keys’ aggressive style of play resulted in 39 winners but also 40 unforced errors.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
