Madison Keys' bid for a Wimbledon title has come to an abrupt end as the American was forced to retire from her third-round match against Jasmine Paolini due to a leg injury. Paolini will now face Ajla Tomljanovic in the quarterfinals.
Madison Keys' hopes of lifting the Wimbledon trophy were dashed on Saturday as the American was forced to retire from her third-round match against Jasmine Paolini due to a leg injury. Paolini, the French Open runner-up, will now face Ajla Tomljanovic in the quarterfinals.
Madison Keys' Wimbledon Journey Cut Short by Leg Injury
Keys, who reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2018, had fought back from a set down to level the match at 5-5 in the third set when she was forced to call for the trainer. The American received treatment on her right leg but was unable to continue, handing Paolini a walkover into the last eight.
It was a disappointing end to the tournament for Keys, who had been in impressive form coming into Wimbledon. The American had won her past four matches on grass, including a victory over world number one Iga Swiatek in the Berlin Open final.
Keys' withdrawal marks the latest setback in her injury-plagued career. The American has struggled with a number of physical issues in recent years, including a rib injury that forced her to retire from the Australian Open earlier this season.
Paolini, meanwhile, continues to impress at Wimbledon. The Italian, who is ranked 55th in the world, has now reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the second time in her career. Paolini's run at Wimbledon has been all the more impressive given that she was forced to come through qualifying to reach the main draw.
In the quarterfinals, Paolini will face Tomljanovic, who upset world number four Paula Badosa in the third round. Tomljanovic is a former Wimbledon quarterfinalist and will be looking to reach the last four for the first time.
The quarterfinal matchup between Paolini and Tomljanovic promises to be a close and entertaining contest. Both players are in good form and will be confident of reaching the semifinals.
