In a thrilling match marked by high stakes and unexpected reversals, Madison Keys emerged victorious over Elise Mertens in the third round of the Indian Wells tournament. The American tennis player, who was riding an exceptional 13-match winning streak, faced a potentially shocking defeat, but managed to turn the tide and win 6-2, 6-7 (8), and 6-4.
Keys, the fifth seed, demonstrated her prowess early on, securing breaks in both the fourth and eighth games, thereby bagging the first set. However, things took a turn in the second set when she squandered an early lead. Despite regaining momentum with a break in the eighth game, her grip loosened when she double-faulted four times while serving for the match, and missed two match points.
The crowd held their breath as the second-set tie-break unfolded. Mertens, the 28th seed, fought hard, pushing the contest to a decider. The home favorite faltered yet again, missing out on two more set points.
However, in a remarkable show of resilience, Keys mirrored the second set’s progression in the decider. She lost an early break but clawed back with another in the seventh game to lead 4-3. Despite the pressure, the reigning Australian Open champion held her nerve, maintained her service, and secured the win after capitalizing on her sixth match point.
This victory marks Keys’ 14th consecutive win, setting the stage for a potential clash with an American opponent in the Indian Wells round-of-16. She is set to face the winner of the match between 10th-seeded American Emma Navarro and 19th seed Donna Vekic.
Despite the nail-biting performance against Mertens, Keys managed to clinch the win, thus extending her impressive winning streak. Reflecting on her success, Keys earlier this week highlighted the importance of momentum but also underscored the need to be fully prepared and in top form.
She said, “Obviously momentum is great but I think at the same time being able to kind of reset and have time and be 100% ready is also really important. I think momentum is great, but if you’re flying all over the world and you’re not 100%, then momentum doesn’t really mean anything.”
If Keys, who also tasted victory in Adelaide preceding the Australian Open, manages to conquer Indian Wells, it would be the first three-peat of her career. The world no. 7 continues to demonstrate her strength on the court, proving that even in the face of adversity, victory is within reach.