Anna 
Madison Keys’ highly anticipated return to the WTA circuit after her breakthrough Australian Open victory has been delayed once again, as the American has withdrawn from yet another tournament due to injury. However, there is some positive news regarding her ranking points.
Keys, who clinched her first Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park, had an extraordinary run at the Australian Open, defeating several top-ranked players to secure the title. The American took down the 10th-seeded Danielle Collins, sixth-seed Elena Rybakina, 19th-seed Elina Svitolina, and second-seed Iga Swiatek, saving a match point in her thrilling three-set semifinal victory over Swiatek. Keys’ resilience continued into the final, where she triumphed over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, securing the title in a match that also went the distance.
The 29-year-old had been dealing with a heavily strapped left thigh during the tournament and has since experienced more serious leg issues. Initially scheduled to play in next week’s Qatar Open, Keys has been forced to withdraw due to a hamstring injury. Furthermore, she has also pulled out of the Dubai Tennis Championships, confirming that her recovery will extend into March.
Keys, who won the Adelaide International earlier in the year, is now expected to make her return at the Indian Wells Open in early March. She will also miss the ATX Open at the end of February due to WTA regulations that limit top-10 players from competing in certain WTA 250 events. Originally slated to play in the Texas tournament, Keys’ surge to No. 7 in the WTA rankings, following her Australian Open triumph, means that only one top-10 player can enter the event, leading to her withdrawal.
Despite this setback, Keys’ ranking remains strong, and she faces no immediate points pressure in the coming weeks. Last year, she missed the first two months of the season due to a shoulder injury, with her return coming at Indian Wells, where she reached the third round. This year, Keys only has 185 points to defend at the Sunshine Double, with her early exit from the 2024 Miami Open. As a result, she is poised to maintain her ranking as competitors around her are set to lose more points.
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