Madison Keys started the Charleston Open with a bang, defeating wild-card entry Emma Navarro in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. With temperatures around 80 degrees, Keys took an early lead and never looked back, winning four out of five break points and finishing the match with a 7-0 edge in aces. This was a crucial win for Keys, who is seeded No. 9 this year and won the Charleston title in 2019.
Meanwhile, Navarro, the 2021 NCAA singles champion, faced a tough battle against Keys. Despite being ranked a career-best 118th this week and playing in just the 16th tour-level contest of her career, Navarro was not able to overcome the aggressive play of Keys.
The young player admitted that the combination of Keys’ aggressive play and her nerves set her back at the beginning of the match. Navarro’s father, Ben, is a local billionaire who bought the Charleston tournament in 2018 and owns the Western & Southern Open in Ohio.
