Madison Keys shares heartfelt reaction after kind words from Ash Barty

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Madison Keys was unable to reach the finals of the 2022 Australian Open

American tennis star Madison Keys saw her incredible 2022 Australian Open run come to an end at the hands of world no.1 Ash Barty.

Keys was looking to cement a place in the history books by reaching the finals of the Australian Open despite not being seeded at the start of the tournament.

However, it wasn’t meant to be for the 26-year-old Barty was excellent in the semi-final and defeated the American 6-1 and 6-3.

tennis aus keysopen
Australia’s Ashleigh Barty (R) shakes hand with Madison Keys of the US after their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 27, 2022.

Had Keys pulled off the upset, this would have been her second Grand Slam final. The last time she achieved that was in 2017 when she reached the final of the 2017 US Open. The American was unable to win that tournament, but she seems to have left an impression on many.

Barty was all praise for Keys after the semi-final calling her rival an “amazing human being” and how she was a “great person”. 

Keys also reacted to this praise in her own style, with a few emojis. 

Can Ash Barty win her first Australian Open title?

While it was a story of what could have been for Keys, there could be something to celebrate for the world no.1.

Barty has never won the Australian Open and it would be incredible if she won her home Grand Slam.

The 25-year-old already has won the French Open and Wimbledon once, and it will be interesting to see how she does in the final.

Barty will be up against Danielle Collins in the final, and this is going to be the American’s first-ever singles Grand Slam final.

Experience is on Barty’s side and she could make this a tournament to remember for the home support. 

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