Keys tops Pegula after a three sets battle to win Adelaide title

Madison Keys captured her ninth Hologic WTA Tour title by defeating top seed Jessica Pegula 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in the final of the Adelaide International on Saturday. The World No.20 overcame an upper leg injury in the second set to overpower No.7 Pegula to notch her 30th Top 10 win.

En route to the final, Keys notched dominant wins over Beatriz Haddad Maia, Jelena Ostapenko, Daria Kasatkina and Liudmila Samsonova, who was forced to retire with injury in the third set.

“I haven’t been back since 2022,” Keys told the crowd on court, “and I was lucky enough to lift the trophy then and now I’m back and I’m holding it once again, so I’m thinking I should just keep coming back to Adelaide. I clearly do well here.”

“Jessie, amazing playing. Way to come out of the gates first week of the year and make the finals. We can discuss the match later when we’re flying together, if you want.”

Keys finished the match with 10 aces and 26 winners, while holding Pegula to just six winners.

“You hit the ball harder than anybody,” Pegula told Keys during the trophy ceremony. “I think I maybe hit three winners, I don’t know, but it was tough. You’ve been playing amazing all week.”

Keys and Pegula will now make the quick flight to Melbourne, where the Australian Open begins on Sunday. Pegula is set to face Australian wild card Maya Joint in the first round on Monday. Keys will face another American, Ann Li, in her opener on Tuesday.