Madison Keys, the newly crowned Australian Open champion, has been ruled out of the upcoming WTA tournament in Austin. Her remarkable victory in Melbourne propelled her to world No. 7, surpassing the eligibility criteria for the ATX Open. The tournament, which begins on February 24, has a rule limiting the participation of top-10 players to just one. With Jessica Pegula already confirmed as a participant, Keys’ spot was unfortunately forfeited.
The rule, designed to ensure balanced competition across WTA events, has drawn mixed reactions. While tournament director Christo van Rensburg expressed disappointment, he also praised Keys’ achievement and looked forward to welcoming her in future editions. Despite the setback, Keys’ rise to the top echelons of tennis is a testament to her hard work and dedication.
Fans in Austin will miss the opportunity to see Keys play, but her success at the Australian Open has undoubtedly cemented her status as one of the sport’s elite players. As she continues her journey, the tennis world eagerly anticipates her future performances and the impact she will have on the game.
TX Open stated: “With World No 6 Jessica Pegula already committed to the event, WTA rules prevent us from having a second Top 10 player in the draw.
When we entered an agreement with Madison, her ranking was World No 21. Now with her title wins in both Adelaide and Melbourne, her ranking has moved to World No 7. As a result of her new ranking, Madison will, unfortunately, not be able to compete in this year’s ATX Open.”
Tournament Director Christo van Rensburg added: “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. We can’t wait to invite Madison again to future ATX Opens. We remain very excited to welcome Jessica to her first-ever ATX Open next month. She’s eager to compete in Austin.”
Madison Keys in 2025
Ranked world no.7 (career-high), Keys played her last match on the 25th of January when she overcame world no.1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 2-6 7-5 in the final of the Australian Open to win her 11th career title.
At present, during this year the American has managed to achieve a composed 14-1 win-loss record. The American conquered 2 titles in 2025 in Adelaide and Australian Open.