It was a rough day for Madison Keys and Taylor Fritz at the 2026 US Open. Both had leads in their matches with the finish line in sight and lost in heartbreaking fashion.
Keys and Fritz did not shy away from the disappointment they felt in their post match press conferences. Their brutal admissions gave an insight on how tough professional tennis is.
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What Keys shared
A tearful Keys explained that she has been struggling with her game for some time. She talked about pushing the emotions away and continuing to play.
In today’s match, Keys experienced a nervousness that affected her physically to the point where she felt like she could not swing the racquet.
She said “tennis feels really hard right now” and mentioned that she will need to make changes.
Kudos to Keys for giving thoughtful answers and trying to explain how mentally and physically impaired she felt.
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What Fritz said
Fritz was hunched over as if he was carrying the devastating loss on his back.
September 5, 2026; New York, United States; Taylor Fritz of the U.S. reacts during his third round match against Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
He didn’t know what to say, described it as feeling like he was in hell.
Fritz cannot explain how he let the match get away. He shared how he doesn’t want to see or talk to anybody for a few days and then return to work.
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While it may not be much consolation to them right now, Keys and Fritz gained the respect of fans by sharing raw feelings and emotions after heartbreaking losses.
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