It's a Mad, Mad World: Madison Keys ousts Petra Kvitova in third round

I picked Petra Kvitova to win the Australian Open on this website, and in the 2015 preview issue of TENNIS Magazine, I said the Czech would be the WTA player of the year. All I had to worry about, I thought, was a certain big-serving American getting in the way.

Well, this is a bit awkward.

On a day when world No. 1 Serena Williams needed three sets to get by 26th seed Elina Svitolina, unseeded 19-year-old Madison Keys ended Day 6 play—and No. 4 seed Kvitova’s tournament—with a potentially career-changing 6-4, 7-5 win.

“I think my hands are still shaking,” the shocked American told the crowd inside Rod Laver Arena afterward.

A two-time Wimbledon champion and frequent disappointment at every other Slam, Kvitova undoubtedly realized that her third round could be troublesome once she scanned her draw. Ranked just outside the seeding cut-off at No. 35, Keys is one of a scant few players who can claim to have a bigger game than Kvitova. Her serve is massive, and it may not even be at its peak. Her ground game is just as imposing, particularly her forehand, which with her whipping motion can instantly change the tenor of a point—by simply terminating it.

Those superb shots, along with a blistering backhand, were on display throughout this jaw-dropping exhibition, but so was Keys’ improved physical and mental strength. She looked fitter than ever, and that shouldn’t be a surprise considering her just-completed off-season with Lindsay Davenport. The three-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1 joins Keys during her formative years on tour, and should things continue to trend upward, seems likely to be included among the recent “celebrity” coaches that have made their mark from the sidelines.

“It was a great offseason, I learned a lot,” said Keys when pressed about her famous coach. She also revealed what lessons Davenport has tried to instill, that she can “go cross-court” and doesn’t always have to “go for things that you don’t have.”

Indeed, it was the questions about Keys’ mind, rather than her body, that were foremost as this upset gradually took shape. After a fusillade of forehands gave her a break lead at 5-4 in the first set, Keys served it out (capped with a 116 M.P.H. ace) and rode the momentum into the second set, breaking Kvitova for 2-1. But for the second time in the match, Keys immediately gave a break back with a lopsided service game. Two games later, it would happen a third time, when Keys plummeted to 0-40 after breaking one of the game’s best servers.

It was 3-3 after all of that, and Kvitova was fortunate that it was so. She seemed to rush her shots throughout the match, but that could be attributed to the threat of Keys’ stellar form. Serving, of all things, undid the Czech as well; she double-faulted six times and won only 41 percent of her second-serve points. She was fighting herself as much as her opponent.

Nevertheless, Kvitova was on level footing in the set. And when she held twice more for a 5-4 lead, the pressure swung back to Keys—just a few games away from her best result at a major, but four points away from letting it get away from her.

Keys handled the moment, holding for 5-5. Kvitova couldn’t answer. With her trademark offense, timely defense, and an opportune net cord that led to a Kvitova error, Keys took the lead at 6-5 and could see a fourth-round encounter with compatriot Madison Brengle coming into focus.

“I was sitting down on the changeover and I kept saying, ‘Make a first serve, make a first serve,’” said Keys. “I’m so happy I served that game out.”

Davenport could hardly watch as Keys did just that, with such confidence that recalled the final game of Nick Kyrgios’ win over Rafael Nadal last summer at Wimbledon—another example of an ultra-talented teenager taking it to an established star. It was the essence of no-nonsense; Davenport did her part by walking outside the arena as Keys lauded her over the microphone.

Kvitova and Keys are similar only in that they are each huge hitters of the ball. While the left-handed Kvitova does her best work with angles and spin, Keys cuts to the chase with an assault that, like San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner, asks the question: Can you keep up with it?

With more performances like this one, Keys hopes to someday copy Kvitova in another way: Grand Slam champion. It doesn’t seem too far-fetched now.