Madison Keys (18th seed) needed two tiebreaks to defeat Irina Begu in the second round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid. It was an intense match lasting two hours and 11 minutes, and the 2017 US Open finalist was more inspired in the moments that ultimately made the difference (7-6(3), 7-6(6)).
Irina BeguPhoto: Jean Catuffe/Dppi / Zuma Press / Profimedia
Irina Begu, defeated by Madison Keys in the second round of WTA Madrid
Madison was more precise in the beginning of the match, the American producing the first break of the duel in the third game. After Keys trailed at 3-1 and 4-2, Irina finally really got into the match.
Our player started to cause problems from the return, and the six missed break points in the sixth game are proof.
A few minutes later, Begu completed the attempt to win against the serve, and the match was balanced (5-5, and then 6-6).
Unfortunately, Irina did not have clarity in her decisions, and the two lost services ultimately weighed decisively in the American winning the tiebreak (score 7-3).
The second set brought the first break at 2-2, being the first time in the set when Begu took the lead.
Unfortunately, Irina could not take advantage of the opportunity, and Keys came with the break (3-3). With problems at work, Begu gradually gave up the initiative, and the American’s forehand caused some damage to our player’s defense.
It reached 5-3 for Keys, and the American served to close the game on Court 7 in the Caja Magica complex.
With a better defense from the baseline (he varied the higher balls with the slices), Begu put the opponent in difficulty, and Irina achieved the break at the last shout (5-4).
However, Irina did not escape her emotions, as she had to save three match balls in the next game. In addition, at 6-5 for the opponent, Begu returned to the service range from 0-30, and the scoreboard would record the tiebreak (the second of the match).
Unfortunately, this tiebreak was not lucky for Irina either. After saving another match point (the fourth) at 6-5, Begu had nothing to do with a flawless backhand along the line sent by the opponent. The victory (8-6) came after a game that lasted two hours and 11 minutes.
To be known after the match between Irina Begu and Madison Keys
- It was only the second tournament that Irina played after returning to the field (injured, our athlete was absent from the WTA circuit between September 2023 and March 2024).
- Following this win, Madison leads 2-0 in head-to-head matches with Begu. The first victory came in 2016, in Miami, score 6-3, 6-1.
- Currently ranked 128th in the world rankings, Begu will lose important points after the premature elimination in Madrid, and in the WTA Live rankings she is at 165th (down 37 positions).
- For her presence on the main draw at Caja Magica, Irina Begu will receive a prize worth €30,255 and 35 points in the WTA singles ranking.
- Sorana Cîrstea will play on Thursday with Alexandra Eala, ranked 170 WTA, from the Philippines. Seeded 27th at Caja Magica, Sorana has never met Alexandra before on the world circuit.
- Romania has another representative in the second round from Madrid, Jaqueline Cristian (match with Barbora Krejcikova, 27 WTA, Grand Slam winner – Roland Garros 2021).
- The WTA and ATP singles tables from Madrid can be watched live on Digisport channels.
The Mutua Madrid Open is a tournament in the WTA 1000 category that takes place between April 22 and May 5. It is played on clay, and the title champion is Aryna Sabalenka. The tournament has a total prize pool of €7,877,020.
