By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, September 3, 2026
Photo credit: Antoine Couvercelle/ROLEX
NEW YORK—The writing was on the wall as dire digits flashed over Madison Keys’ shoulder.
Facing a 2-5 final-set deficit, Keys confronted five match points at the US Open today.
Unleashing a wrecking ball forehand and warrior will, Keys rewrote the plot, scripting one of the most committed comebacks of her career.
The 2017 US Open finalist fought off five match points edging Anna Bondar 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(5) in a two hour, 58-minute marathon match to battle into the US Open third round for the 10th time in 15 appearances.
Keys smacked 51 winners compared to 17 for Bondar. Dictating play with her forehand, Keys fired 34 forehand winners, which was 24 more than her Hungarian opponent.
This was a wild ride that saw Keys save two match points when Bondard served for the match at 5-2 then deny three more match points on her own serve to close the gap to 4-5.
That stirring stand sparked Keys, who ran off 11 consecutive points to build a 6-5 lead in the decider.
After completing one of her most captivating comebacks, Keys credited the vocal Court 17 fans for carrying her over the finish line.
“I love you guys! That was something, no stress, we all knew I had it,” a smiling Keys joked afterward. “Thank you. You guys got me through that match.
“I’m so happy. It literally gives me chills. It’s the greatest thing in the world.”
The gratitude was genuine.
A year ago, Keys crashed out of the US Open first round in a tight and nervy performance against Mexico’s Renata Zarazua.
This time, a defiant Keys refused to crumble under intense third-set pressure today.
“When I walked out people stood up and I was like: ‘Wow, they’re happy I’m here,’ “ Keys said. “It’s such an amazing atmosphere, just being able to play in front of these fans over and over and over again is the greatest feeling in the world.
“This is the best atmosphere I’ve ever played in. I was trying to remind myself the match wasn’t over yet then the one I hit [down match point] everything but my strings it felt like a good omen.”
Despite all the good work she did forcing Bondar to a third-set breaker, Keys had to stage another comeback once she arrived there.
Down 3-4 in the tiebreaker, Keys double faulted wide then came right back with a series of crackling forehands. Keys fired a forehand winner down the line for 4-5. Keys hit crosscourt forehand winner for 5-all.
Stepping around her backhand, Keys slammed a forehand winner down he Line for 7-5 Bondar net backhand 8-5 Keys.
The 73rd-ranked Bondar flailed a forehand well wide giving Keys a fistful of match points. Hammering a passing shot right at her opponent’s body, Keys capped a sweaty, stick battle in two hours, 58 minutes.
It was Keys’ best Grand Slam comeback since she captured her maiden major at the 2025 Australian Open.
A courageous Keys saved match point at 5-6 shocking second-seeded Iga Swiatek 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(8) in a pulsating AO semifinal comeback win that propelled her into her first Australian Open final. Keys went on to topple Aryna Sabalenka to capture the Melbourne major.
Still thriving in New York City, Keys unleashed a furious fist pump toward her box—and husband and coach Bjorn Fratangelo who flashed a clenched fist right back at his ecstatic wife.
The 31-year-old Keys will face either Olympic gold-medal champion Zheng Qinwen or feisty Yulia Putintseva for a fourth-round appearance—and a potential rematch vs. Swiatek.
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