Madison Keys opened up about the reasons behind her absence from the ATX Open for the second year running. The 2025 Australian Open champion shared her frustrations over the rule that has prevented her from competing in Austin.
Since the ATX Open is a WTA 250 tournament, only one player in the top 10 of the rankings is allowed to compete. Keys’ triumph in Melbourne last year saw her move into the Top 10, but since Jessica Pegula was ranked higher, she got the nod to compete.
Madison Keys Vents Frustration Over Not Being Able To Play at the ATX Open
On the latest edition of the “Players Box” podcast, Keys shared her frustration at not being able to compete in the ATX Open last year and this year. She spoke about how she had already committed to playing in Austin, but her Australian Open triumph and subsequent move into the Top 10 meant she couldn’t qualify.
“That Monday, I moved into the Top 10. And because Jessica [Pegula] was also playing in Austin, she was two spots higher than me. So she got to stay in the tournament,” Keys explained.
While Keys has now dropped out of the Top 10, the Australian Open, taking place a week later this year, meant the rankings cut-off for the ATX Open fell while she was still in the Top 10. And once again, Pegula’s better ranking meant that the only reserved spot for a Top 10 player went her way.
“I was like, ‘Oh, I didn’t defend all of my points in Australia. I’m going to drop out of the Top 10. I can go play Austin this year. So I was like, ‘Maybe I can ask the tournament for a wild card, I’ll see if he has any extras, maybe I can finally go’,” Keys said, adding,
“The WTA told me that I couldn’t take a wild card because even though after the Australian Open, I would drop out of the Top 10, they said I’m not eligible for a wild card because when the deadline closed, it was during the Australian Open this year and I’m still top 10.”
Keys even asked the WTA if she could take the wild card after the rankings updated at the end of the Australian Open, but to no avail.
“It messed up all of the entries. I was so mad, I was rage emailing/texting the WTA because this doesn’t make any sense. One year, I get screwed because I did too well. The next year, I’m trying to go to a tournament again, and somehow I’m penalized for being too good, but also five days later, I’m going to drop out of the Top 10. That makes no sense to me,” she further said.
Keys then said to Pegula, “I’ll just have to talk to my council member and be like, ‘Jessica can you fix these rules that make no sense?'”
Pegula jokingly responded by saying, “Me going to the board reps and being, ‘So, it’s kind of my fault, but why does this keep happening?’ My bad.”
Where Will Keys and Pegula Be Playing Next?
Keys and Pegula will both return to the court at the 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships. After skipping the Qatar Open due to a busy schedule, the American tennis stars will both be in the field for the WTA 1000 event in Dubai.
Pegula’s ranking will give her a first-round bye, while Keys will begin her campaign in Dubai in the first round.
MORE: Madison Keys Traumatized After Being Forced To Fulfill the ‘Gross’ Bet She Lost to Jessica Pegula
Other big names in the field for the Dubai Tennis Championships include Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Świątek, and 2026 Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina.
