The 21-year-old Madison Keys has perhaps been one the most consistent players on the WTA tour this year. The hard-hitting American has had a breakthrough season but more importantly her game has kept abreast of her rising reputation. After clinching her first WTA title back in 2014, Keys won her second title this year but more significantly has ushered in a new wave of the power game that is fast becoming the hallmark of the women’s game. Gone are the days of the subtle yet canny game played by the likes of Justin Henin as Muguruza, Keys and the likes look set to continue the trend set by the Williams sisters.
Keys, who is a powerful baseliner, also breaches the 100mph mark consistently with her serves which makes her a tough customer to beat. Her serving style is also a bit rare on the WTA tour. In fact, Keys was identified as a precocious talent from a very young age. Notably, she became one of the youngest players to win a WTA match when she beat Top100 player Alla Kudryavtseva in an official WTA tournament at the age of 14. Interestingly, she had even defeated Serena Williams in a World Team Tennis tournament also at the age of 14. Incredible, isn’t it!
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After a stellar 2016, she’s marked for greater things in the future. As such, let’s take a look at some of the high-points for Keys in 2016.
#5 Rome Masters Final
Though Keys failed to get past the 4th round in any of the Grand Slams in 2016, she proved to be a force to be reckoned with in other high-profile WTA tournaments
. Importantly, she impressed the pundits when she reached the final of the Rome Masters, a week before the French Open. Crucially, it was the biggest final of Keys’ career so far. Keys defeated 2 top-10 players in Petra Kvitova and Garbine Muguruza en route to the final where she was confronted by none other than the great Serena Williams.
Though the less-fancied American had displayed commendable grit and determination to down Muguruza in the semifinal, Williams proved to be a different proposition altogether as she lost in straight sets. But Keys had certainly taken heart from her performance in the tournament which would set the tone for her brilliant season.
#4 Breaks into top-10 WTA rankings
After a strong clay court season, Keys followed it up with a strong showing at the Aegon Classic in Birmingham a week before Wimbledon.
The ferocious American had to get past Carla Suarez-Navarro in the semifinal of the event to break into the top-10 rankings for the first time in her career. She promptly went on to defeat the 15th ranked Spaniard 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 to become the first new American to break into the top-10 since a certain Serena Williams 17 years ago.
In willing herself to a comeback win after losing the first set, Keys admitted that she had pretended like she did not know the significance of the victory. She elaborated, “I heard about the top 10 ranking from my coach but tried to pretend I didn’t know about it.” Well, to each her own. But there was no arguing the fact it was a significant win in her career.
#3 Second career title at Birmingham
After sealing her place in the top-10 rankings, Keys had a golden opportunity to snap up only her 2nd career WTA title at the in the final of the Aegon Classic where Barbara Strycova awaited her. But a pumped up Keys was ready for the Czech girl and went on to break her in the first service game. The American proceeded to win the first set and cruised to a 6-3, 6-4 win and seal a brilliant week in style by winning a title.
Though the win, right before Wimbledon, had raised expectations on the American's chances in the tournament, she could only reach the 4th round. But the Aegon Classic victory was certainly one of her high points this season.
#2 Another final appearance – Rogers Cup
Keys eventually lost to Simona Halep, but continued her strong finishing streak
Madison Keys had the next big moment in her season when she reached the final of the prestigious Rogers Cup tournament in Montreal. It was her 2nd premier 5 final this year. Though the event was poorer for the absence of Serena, Muguruza and Azarenka, it was still an extremely competitive field but Keys made it through to the final. 4
To her credit, The 21-year-old got the better of Venus Williams en route to the final which she reached by packing off Kristina Kucova.
5th-seed Simona Halep awaited Keys in the final but the American could not upset the Romanian and fell to a 6-7, 3-6 defeat. But to be fair, Halep was on a fine run of 9 consecutive wins at that point. Significantly, it underpinned the consistency Keys showed throughout the season.
Importantly, she built on this result and went on an impressive run at the Rio Olympics where she narrowly missed out on the bronze medal after losing in 3 sets to Petra Kvitova.
#1 Keys books a spot in the WTA Finals
After an impressive year, Keys deserved to be in the mix for a spot in the year-ending WTA finals at Singapore. Going into the WTA events at Beijing and Linz at the start of October, Keys had to win one of the tournaments or enjoy a deep run in both to clinch one of the 8 spots available.
That is exactly what the young American proceeded to do. Keys reached the semifinal at Beijing after demolishing Petra Kvitova in the quarterfinals. But she was unable to outmanoeuvre Johanna Konta in the semifinal and crashed out.
But the determined American went on to give a good account of herself at Linz to reach the semifinal of the Generali Ladies Open. She defeated Oceane Dodin to reach the semifinal. Sadly, a sick Keys had to pull out of the semifinal where she was slated to face Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland. But, importantly, she had already clinched a spot in the WTA Finals.
Though Keys could not progress past the group stage in the season-ending event, it did not tarnish an extremely positive 2016 for the American.
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