Renata Zarazúa makes history at the US Open; stuns Madison Keys

Mexican tennis lived an epic day in New York on Monday. Renata Zarazúa achieved the biggest victory of her career by defeating American Madison Keys, ranked No. 6 in the world and 2025 Australian Open champion, on the center court of the US Open.

Inside the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, the Mexico City native staged a remarkable comeback, winning in three thrilling sets: 6-7, 7-6, 7-5. With this victory, she engraved her name into the history of Mexican tennis, earning her first win over a Top 10 player and breaking a 30-year drought without a Mexican woman defeating an elite rival at a Grand Slam. The last one to achieve such a feat was Angélica Gavaldón at the 1995 Australian Open.

Zarazúa admitted she stepped onto the court with her nerves on edge, even confessing she felt like crying before the match. After losing a tight first-set tiebreak and falling 3-0 in the second, her chances seemed slim. Yet, showing mental toughness and determination — and taking advantage of Keys’ 90 unforced errors — Zarazúa turned the match around.

“I was so nervous, I felt like crying, I was scared and didn’t want to step onto the court. But then I told myself: you have to be professional, go out there and give it your all,” she told ESPN after the victory.

She clinched the second set in another tense tiebreak that electrified the crowd, and in the decisive third set, she seized the crucial break to close it out 7-5, sending shockwaves through the tournament.

Beyond the numbers, this victory represents a milestone in Zarazúa’s career and a beacon of hope for the resurgence of women’s tennis in Mexico. It also marked her debut victory on the world’s biggest tennis stage, completing her presence on the center courts of all four Grand Slams — an achievement unmatched by any other Mexican female player.

Zarazúa now moves on to the second round, where she will face France’s Diane Parry, who upset Petra Kvitová. The matchup looks promising: Zarazúa holds a 2-0 record against Parry and will aim for her first-ever third-round appearance at a major.

Monday night in New York was historic: Mexican tennis shone bright, and Renata Zarazúa emerged as the new standard-bearer of her nation’s game.