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Madison Keys Upset at Wimbledon by Siegemund \ TezzBuzz \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Madison Keys was stunned by 104th-ranked Laura Siegemund in Wimbledon’s third round. Only one of the top six women’s seeds remains. Siegemund now faces fellow surprise contender Solana Sierra on Sunday.

Quick Looks

• No. 6 seed Madison Keys lost 6-3, 6-3 to Germany’s Laura Siegemund.
• Siegemund, ranked No. 104, had never passed Wimbledon’s second round before.
• Only top seed Aryna Sabalenka remains from the top six women’s seeds.
• Keys committed 31 unforced errors, 20 more than Siegemund.
• Siegemund, age 37, is the oldest woman left in the draw.
• Her next opponent is lucky loser Solana Sierra (ranked 101).
• In men’s play, Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, and others advanced.
• Naomi Osaka was eliminated; Amanda Anisimova moved to the fourth round.

Deep Look

Wimbledon 2025 continues to deliver jaw-dropping upsets, with Friday marking yet another major shake-up in the women’s draw. Madison Keys, the No. 6 seed and reigning Australian Open champion, was eliminated in the third round by 104th-ranked German veteran Laura Siegemund. The 6-3, 6-3 defeat not only shocked spectators but also further dismantled an already crumbling women’s bracket, where only one of the top six seeds remains in contention heading into the tournament’s second week.

Keys entered the match as a strong contender, riding high from her Grand Slam victory in Melbourne earlier this year and a season marked by consistent high-level play. Wimbledon has long been the one major where she has yet to reach the semifinals, despite two quarterfinal appearances. Hopes were high that 2025 would be her breakthrough year at the All England Club. Instead, she was outplayed by an opponent who had never advanced past the second round at Wimbledon before this week.

Siegemund’s victory is particularly stunning given her prior record on grass. Before this year, the 37-year-old had a career Wimbledon record of just 2-5 and had exited in the first or second rounds in each of her appearances. Across all Grand Slam tournaments, she had only reached the third round once in 28 previous tries — during her run to the quarterfinals at the French Open in 2020. Her win over Keys not only defied expectations but also solidified her place as the oldest woman remaining in the women’s draw.

In her post-match comments, Siegemund acknowledged both the nerves and the improbability of the victory. “At times, it wasn’t the best quality, let’s say. But I managed, and in the end, it’s just important to find solutions and I did that well,” she said. With a smile, she added, “There are always nerves. If you don’t have nerves in this moment, you’re probably dead.”

The match itself was a study in contrasting styles. Keys brought her trademark power game, capable of overwhelming opponents with blistering groundstrokes and explosive serving. Siegemund, in contrast, relied on variety — spins, slices, and tactical redirection — to keep Keys off-balance. The approach paid off. Keys hit 31 unforced errors, 20 more than Siegemund, and never found her rhythm amid the blustery conditions on Court No. 2.

The final point came with a Keys backhand return that sailed wide. As the ball missed its mark, Siegemund beamed with joy, raised her arms, and jumped repeatedly — a celebration equal parts disbelief and triumph. “You can’t not be happy when you beat a great player like Madison,” she said afterward.

For Keys, the loss marks a premature end to what many saw as a realistic title run. It also highlights a broader theme of inconsistency in the women’s draw this year. Already, the tournament has lost No. 2 Coco Gauff, No. 3 Jessica Pegula, No. 4 Jasmine Paolini, and No. 5 Zheng Qinwen. Only world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka remains, and she is scheduled to face 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu in a blockbuster third-round matchup.

Siegemund will next face another surprise entrant: 101st-ranked Solana Sierra of Argentina. Sierra lost in the qualifying rounds but entered the main draw as a lucky loser following a withdrawal. Her Cinderella run continues into the fourth round, and her upcoming clash with Siegemund guarantees at least one unexpected quarterfinalist at this year’s tournament — a rarity in the modern Grand Slam era.

Friday’s results weren’t surprising only on the women’s side. The men’s draw also saw significant movement. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the fourth round with a four-set win over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff. The match showcased Alcaraz’s signature combination of athleticism, court craft, and calm under pressure. No. 5 seed Taylor Fritz, No. 14 Andrey Rublev, and No. 17 Karen Khachanov also advanced, joining an increasingly competitive men’s field that already saw a record 13 seeded players eliminated in the first round.

Meanwhile, in an unusually short match, 10th-seeded Ben Shelton returned to the court to complete his suspended second-round match against Rinky Hijikata. He needed just four points and one minute to seal the win.

On the women’s side, former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka’s comeback hopes were dashed. Osaka was knocked out in the third round for the third time in her career at Wimbledon, losing to Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. However, No. 13 seed Amanda Anisimova of the United States progressed to the fourth round, keeping American hopes alive. She was joined by No. 24 Elise Mertens, who ousted No. 14 Elina Svitolina, and No. 30 Linda Noskova, who also advanced.

Looking ahead to Saturday, the action intensifies. Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek will meet Danielle Collins on Centre Court in a rematch that carries historical baggage. The two had a tense exchange during their match at the 2024 Paris Olympics, adding a layer of drama to their upcoming clash. In men’s action, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic will also grace Centre Court, each aiming to keep their title hopes alive.

Court No. 1 will spotlight American women’s talent, with Hailey Baptiste facing Russia’s rising star Mirra Andreeva, and No. 10 Emma Navarro taking on defending champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic.

As the first week at the All England Club concludes, one theme dominates: unpredictability. Whether it’s the fall of seeded giants, the rise of underdogs, or the volatile nature of grass-court tennis, Wimbledon 2025 is delivering drama in abundance. And with more marquee matchups and potential surprises ahead, fans can expect more unforgettable moments in the tournament’s second week.

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