{
  "id": 5829374,
  "title": "Keys: 'I felt like I couldn't play tennis'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/keys-i-felt-like-i-couldnt-play-tennis",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-05T20:20:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/keys-felt-couldnt-play-tennis-202036029.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Australian Open champion Madison Keys experienced an emotional breakdown during her match at the US Open against China's Qinwen Zheng, losing the last seven games after taking a 5-0 lead in the third set. Keys admitted to feeling scared and uncertain about her ability to play tennis, stating she couldn't even swing her racquet. She blamed her performance on her deteriorating mental state, noting that Zheng's improved play contrasted with her own poor performance. Keys, who has previously sought therapy and admitted to doubts about winning a Grand Slam title, now plans to make significant changes in her approach to the sport after this disappointing performance.",
  "summary": "Former Australian Open champion Madison Keys felt \"scared\" and as though \"I couldn't play tennis anymore,\" she said Saturday after losing at the US Open.\"Then I felt like I couldn't play tennis anymore.",
  "key_points": [
    "Madison Keys had emotional breakdown during US Open match.",
    "Keys felt unable to play tennis, couldn't swing racquet.",
    "Keys blames mental state, plans significant changes in approach."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}