A bizarre moment unfolded in the Madison Keys vs. Elena-Gabriela Ruse matchup at Wimbledon 2025. Despite producing some scintillating tennis from both competitors, the first-round match will perhaps be best remembered for a Keys serve.
The World No. 8, after tossing the ball, managed to hit it with the frame of her racket. The ball flew high in the air and fell close to the service box. Bizarrely, it landed so close to the box that Ruse had wound up and was gearing up to swing for a return.
Wimbledon shared a clipping of the incident, and described Keys’ bizarre delivery as “the trick serve that nearly was.”
How Frances Tiafoe Reacted to Madison Keys’s ‘Trick Serve’
In the fiercely competitive match, Keys eked out a narrow 6-7(4), 7-5, 7-5 to reach the Wimbledon second round.
Keys had faced a similarly tough test against Ruse in the second round of the Australian Open in January, before escaping 7-6(1), 2-6, 7-5. The American later went on to win the Grand Slam.
Meanwhile, several people in the tennis world, including her compatriot Frances Tiafoe, found themselves talking about Keys’ unintentional “trick serve” long after she had wrapped up the win.
Tiafoe and Keys share a close rapport and are partnering up for the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship. Previously, the duo played together for the U.S. at the United Cup.
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Tiafoe, who often shares his humorous takes on Instagram, where he has over 800,000 followers, commented on his partner-to-be’s unique serve at Wimbledon.
“Hope you get some ‘quality’ serving reps before mixed US Open,” Tiafoe wrote, taking a humorous jibe at his countrywoman.
Keys and Tiafoe have a playful dynamic where she feels his pre-tournament silence or late-tournament messages have brought her bad luck in past tournaments.
The American placed a ‘text ban’ on Tiafoe during the Australian Open due to her superstition.
How Keys Has Performed in the 2025 Tennis Season
Keys started the year strongly, winning the Adelaide International with a win over compatriot Jessica Pegula in the final. Thereafter, she captured her first Grand Slam at the Australian Open with a spectacular win over Aryna Sabalenka in the summit clash.
The American proceeded to make deep runs at most of the tournaments she entered in the ensuing months.
Keys also made it to the quarterfinals at Roland-Garros, bowing out to eventual champion Coco Gauff in a fiercely contested three-set match.
In the lead-up to Wimbledon, Keys made it to the semifinals of the HSBC Championships, bowing out to Tatjana Maria. She fell early in her next tournament at Berlin, losing to 2023 Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová. Keys will face Serbia’s Olga Danilović in Round 2 of Wimbledon.
