‘Total bummer’: Australian Open champion Madison Keys kicked out of US tennis tournament
Off the back of her first grand slam triumph, Madison Keys has had her invitation to a tournament revoked over one change.
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Australian Open women’s champion Madison Keys has been kicked out of an upcoming tennis tournament after her first-ever grand slam triumph.
The 29-year-old enjoyed a successful start to her 2025 season, taking out a WTA title in Adelaide before an unlikely grand slam success at Melbourne Park.
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But her rise from 21st in the rankings at the turn of the year to the new World No. 7 has come at a cost.
Due to her soaring up the rankings she is no longer allowed to compete at the ATX Open in Austin, Texas at the end of February due to a little-known rule.
WTA rules do not allow 250-level tournaments – the smallest events on the WTA tour – to have two players inside the top 10, except in the case one is a defending champion.
And since fellow American and World No. 6 Jessica Pegula is already locked in as the sole player inside the top 10, Keys will now not be permitted to compete.
The rule was brought in to spread talent across the multiple tournaments in multiple regions.
ATX Open organisers said they had locked Keys in when she was ranked 21st but after her Aussie Open title they can no longer welcome her to the tournament next month.
“Every year the ATX Open strives to bring some of the top women’s players in the world to Austin to compete in our tournament. This year is no exception,” tournament director Christo van Rensburg said.
“The success of Madison in Australia, where she played legendary tennis on a world stage, is further proof that the ATX Open is attracting the best talent in the game.
“We love Madison and have been anticipating for months the excitement of her playing here in Austin for the first time.
“While we wish the Top 10 rule didn’t apply to our tournament, we respect the rules of the WTA.
“That said, Madison’s Grand Slam title and subsequent Top 10 world ranking are both something to celebrate.”
It is unclear if Pegula was the tennis player given the top 10 spot because she is ranked higher than Keys or if she simply just committed to playing in the tournament earlier.
Either way social media is not happy with the move.
“WTA rules are seriously frustrating! Madison Keys can’t compete in the ATX Open just because she cracked the Top 10, and the tournament’s already got one top player, Pegula. This is a total bummer for fans in Austin who were looking forward to watching Keys play,” one fan wrote on X.
While another said: “Sucks so bad for fans in Austin.”
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Originally published as ‘Total bummer’: Australian Open champion Madison Keys kicked out of US tennis tournament
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