Madison Keys waited years for a moment like this. The post Tennis Fans Rage at WTA’s Bizarre Rule That Prevents Madison Keys From Playing American Tournament appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Keys, who rose to world No. 7 after winning her first Grand Slam title, had entered the WTA 250-level ATX Open in Austin, Tex., which begins February 24. The American entered the tournament as world No. 21, with fellow American Jessica Pegula entering as world No. 6.

Madison Keys has been forced to pull out of next month’s ATX Open in Texas as a direct result of her winning the Australian Open. Keys sent a shiver down the spine of the tennis world when she toppled back-to-back Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in last week’s Melbourne showpiece.

Due to an odd rule preventing more than one top-10 player participating in a WTA 250 tournament, the ATX Open announced Tuesday that Keys will no longer be eligible to participate in the event. The Austin-based tournament already has No. 6 Jessica Pegula committed to play.

Australian Open champion Madison Keys has been forced out of an upcoming tournament immediately after — and as a result of — her first ever grand slam triumph. The 29-year-old enjoyed a successful start to her 2025 season, taking out the title in Adelaide before lifting the trophy in Melbourne.

Madison Keys will not be able to compete at next month's ATX Open in Texas because of a WTA rule which states that only one top-10 player can feature in 250-level tournaments