(May 5, 2013) -- American
Madison Keys may have needed some luck to get into the main draw of the Mutua Madrid Open. But she used her unexpected opportunity to score the biggest win of her career in opening round action.
No. 5 seed
Li Na was scheduled to play
Tamira Pascek. But when Pascek withdrew at the last minute due to a respiratory illness, that meant Madison Keys, who lost earlier in qualifying, was called up for duty as a lucky loser.
Li may have been all smiles at the start of the match, but she soon found herself down a set to the big hitting American who tested her earlier in the season at Sydney.
Unable to deal with Keys's deep returns or her big kick serves out wide, Li soon found herself down a double break in the second set. Li recovered one of the breaks, but it wasn't enough as Keys soon served out the match in just over an hour 6-3, 6-2.
Keys was the one left smiling afterwards as she signed the on-court camera “Madison :)” to celebrate the victory. This marks the first ever top 10 win for Keys who will next face Spain's
Anabel Medina Garrigues.
Serena, Kvitova Struggle But Reach Second Round
Defending champion
Serena Williams got a tougher then expected first round match versus 18-year-old
Yulia Putintseva. Putintseva showed no fear against Williams and pushed the World No. 1 into a close first tiebreak. Williams managed to squeeze out the set with a big serve just when she needed it.
Williams eventually found her way to a double break lead in the second set and soon went on to wrap up a 7-6(5), 6-1 win.
Former Madrid champion
Petra Kvitova was forced to battle in three sets against Belgium's
Yanina Wickmayer. Despite being down 2-4 in the final set, Kvitova prevailed 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Other winners on the day included
Angelique Kerber, Ana Ivanovic and
Nadia Petrova.
Wozniacki, Jankovic Upset as Venus Williams Withdraws
Several top names found themselves leaving Madrid earlier than expected. No. 10 seed
Caroline Wozniacki lost earlier in the day to
Yaroslava Shvedova 6-2, 6-4.
Charleston finalist
Jelena Jankovic found herself ousted in three sets by South Africa's
Chanelle Scheepers 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-3.
Venus Williams was forced to withdraw from the event due to a back injury. She was replaced in the draw by
Stefanie Voegele who later lost to Medina Garrigues.
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(Photo Credit: Getty Images) |