US Open: Home hopes hit as Madison Keys makes 89 unforced errors in first-round loss

Australian Open champion beaten by Renata Zarazúa

World No 6 suffers string of errors in loss

One of the main home hopes at the US Open has suffered an early exit from the tournament after Madison Keys lost in the first round on Monday.

There were early signs the world No 6, who won the Australian Open in January, faced a tough match against Mexico’s Renata Zarazúa. The American won the first set, but only after taking a marathon tiebreak 12-10. Zarazúa won the second set on another tiebreak (7-3) before closing out the match by taking the final set 7-5.

It was an error-strewn performance from Keys, who reached the US Open final in 2017, and she sent down 14 double faults and only got 55% of her first serves in. Keys, whose left thigh was heavily taped, also hit 46 winners to her opponent’s five, but had 89 unforced errors.