"Power Queen" Overcomes the Haunting Ghost at the US Open First Round

(Tennis result) Madison Keys overcame the anxiety of coming back to the place where she suffered a painful loss a year earlier, beating Alina Korneeva 7-5, 6-4 in the US Open first round.

Madison Keys began her 2026 US Open campaign with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Alina Korneeva on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The home player needed some time to control her emotions, but she knew how to accelerate at crucial moments.

The match held special significance for Keys. One year ago, she also entered the US Open with high expectations after winning the 2025 Australian Open, but unexpectedly exited in the first round due to her inability to handle the psychological pressure.

"It's tough to come back to the court where you experienced a painful loss, and then play another first-round match. Those lingering memories always make everything difficult,"Keys shared.

The former US Open finalist (2017) started with great momentum, winning three consecutive games. However, Korneeva quickly broke back in the fifth game after a forehand error from the home representative that went wide.

The two players continued to exchange breaks before Keys converted the third set point with a quality backhand, closing out the first set 7-5. Her serving improved significantly, with her first-serve percentage rising from 48% in the opening set to nearly 70% in the second.

Keys secured a break advantage to lead 4-2, but Korneeva showed great resilience. The Russian player won a clever net exchange to reclaim the service game, before continuing to apply pressure on her opponent.

However, Korneeva's momentum did not last. Keys immediately broke again in the eighth game. Subsequent errors caused the American to lose her serve once more, but she regained her composure in time and finished the match with a trademark forehand.

Currently ranked 24th in the world, Keys is participating in the US Open for the 15th time. She has reached the semifinals at least three times and is one of the most familiar faces at Flushing Meadows, but she admitted that experience still cannot completely shield players from pressure.

"You have a week of preparation, and initially everyone is excited. But as the first round approaches, the racket seems to get slippier, the shouting gets louder, and you can clearly feel the tension,"Keys said.

After overcoming the painful memories and the first hurdle, the 2025 Australian Open champion will face Anna Bondar in the second round. The Hungarian player advanced after a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Lucie Havlickova. Match result