Jitters The Keys To Loss

Australian Open winner cites 'paralysing nerves', gruelling season for 1st-round defeat

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NEW YORK - Madison Keys said the nerves she experienced in her first US Open appearance as a Grand Slam winner proved "paralysing", after she was sent spinning out of the opening round on Aug 25.

The sixth seed notched up a staggering 89 unforced errors and made 14 double faults in her 6-7 (10-12), 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 defeat by Mexican Renata Zarazua in front of stunned fans in the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It was a disappointing finish to a Grand Slam season that began with her maiden Major title at the Australian Open and the 30-year-old said the jitters cost her dearly against her unseeded opponent.

"For the first time in a while, my nerves really got the better of me, and it became a little bit paralysing," the American said.

"I felt like I was just slow, I wasn't seeing things the way that I wanted to, which I feel resulted in a lot of bad decisions and lazy footwork. So I feel like that's the summary."

Three years ago, Keys spoke openly about the "dark pit of despair" that she was in when her career had stalled due to the suffocating pressure of trying to stay at the top level of the sport, and she said expectations weighed heavily on her again.