Keys to break into the top 5 of the WTA rankings for the first time in her career

Adrien Guyot

le 22/02/2025 à 11h11

2 min to read

Keys Paolini Pegula

Madison Keys' start to the 2025 season has been a fairytale. After losing in the quarter-finals of the Auckland tournament to Clara Tauson, another in-form player since January, the 30-year-old American has won back-to-back titles.

At the Adelaide tournament, she beat Haddad Maia, Ostapenko, Kasatkina and Samsonova before dominating her compatriot and friend Jessica Pegula in the final (6-3, 4-6, 6-1).

At the Australian Open, Keys put in a faultless performance to defeat Li, Ruse, Collins, Rybakina, Svitolina and Swiatek before ending the 20-match winning streak of two-time title-holder and world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

After this first Grand Slam triumph, Keys climbed to a career-high ranking of No.6 in the world.

Currently suffering from a leg injury, Madison Keys has not played an official match since, as she withdrew from the WTA 1000 tournaments in Doha and Dubai.

But even without playing, Keys continues to climb the rankings, little by little.

While Jasmine Paolini was beaten in the Round of 16 in Dubai, the Italian titleholder failed to defend 880 points and will exit the top 5 at the end of the tournament.

With an ankle injury sustained against Sofia Kenin, she was unable to defend her chances 100% in the second set.

As a result of this defeat, Paolini dropped two places to 6th, to the benefit of Jessica Pegula, who made her return to the top 4.

For her part, Keys, who was not present in Dubai last year either, had no points to defend and will therefore enter the top 5 for the first time in her career this Monday, February 24.