Madison Keys Has to Push Tenacious Elise Mertens to a Sixth Match Point to Win in Indian Wells 2025 Third Round

Extensive Match Report. Madison Keys and Elise Mertens, two experienced and accomplished players on the WTA Tour, delivered a captivating performance in their third-round clash at the 2025 Indian Wells tournament. Keys, riding a wave of momentum with a 13-match winning streak following her Australian Open triumph, came into the match as the clear favorite. Mertens, however, with her versatile all-court game and renowned resilience, was more than capable of challenging the American star. The matchup set the stage for an intense and strategic battle, with both players looking to advance deeper into the tournament.

Keys began the match with confidence, dictating play from the baseline with her powerful groundstrokes and unyielding serve. She quickly established control, taking the first set 6-2. Mertens appeared to struggle with Keys’ relentless aggression, often finding herself pinned behind the baseline and unable to turn defense into offense. The American’s ability to strike winners from seemingly impossible positions left Mertens with few answers as the opening set slipped away.

Elise Mertens Fights Like a Lioness in the Second Set

The second set, however, showcased Mertens’ remarkable ability to adapt and thrive under pressure. Often considered one of the most undervalued players on the WTA Tour, Mertens proved why she is a perennial threat to even the strongest opponents. She shifted her tactics effectively, extending rallies and using sharp angles to keep Keys off balance. The Belgian’s persistence paid off as the set became a tightly contested battle, especially after Mertens fought back from 6-2, 3-0, and even 5-3 down. At 5-3, Madison Keys had the chance to serve out the match. She was two points away at 30-0, held her first match point at 40-30, and earned a second match point from advantage. However, it was Elise Mertens who broke back to 4-5 on her second breakpoint of the game.
It all ultimately led to a tiebreak, and what a tiebreak it was! Mertens took an early 2-1 lead but then faltered, falling behind 2-5. She had to fend off a third match point at 5-6 and a fourth at 6-7 before leveling the score and edging out the tiebreak 10-8, leveling the match even and reminding everyone why underestimating her is always a mistake.

Madison Keys Regains Composure with an Early Break in the Third Set

In the final set, Keys demonstrated why she is one of the most dangerous players on the tour. She regained her composure and struck an early break, leveraging her powerful shots to keep Mertens on the defensive. Despite Mertens’ continued tenacity, Keys maintained her lead and sealed the match with a 6-2, 6-7(8), 6-4 victory. The win not only extended her winning streak to 14 matches but also reinforced her status as a serious contender for the Indian Wells title. For Mertens, while the defeat was disappointing, her performance underlined her competitive spirit and ability to challenge the very best on the biggest stages.

Match Stats Elise Mertens vs Madison Keys, Indian Wells 2025

Key Stats	Mertens	Keys
Dominance Ratio	0.96	1.04

Service	Mertens	Keys
Serve Rating	216	240
Aces	1	5
Double Faults	9	12
1st Serve %	54% (66/123)	59% (76/128)
1st Serve Points Won	70% (46/66)	75% (57/76)
2nd Serve Points Won	40% (23/57)	33% (17/52)
Break Points Saved	63% (10/16)	80% (12/15)
Service Games	60% (9/15)	80% (12/15)

Serve Frequency	Mertens	Keys
Ace %	0.8%	3.9%
Double Fault %	7.3%	9.4%

Return	Mertens	Keys
Return Rating	132	168
1st Return Points Won	25% (19/76)	30% (20/66)
2nd Return Points Won	67% (35/52)	60% (34/57)
Break Points Won	20% (3/15)	38% (6/16)
Return Games	20% (3/15)	40% (6/15)

Points Won	Mertens	Keys
Pressure Points	42% (13/31)	58% (18/31)
Service Points	56% (69/123)	58% (74/128)
Return Points	42% (54/128)	44% (54/123)
Total Points	49% (123/251)	51% (128/251)
Match Points Saved	5	0
Max Points In A Row	5	7

Games Won	Mertens	Keys
Service Games	60% (9/15)	80% (12/15)
Return Games	20% (3/15)	40% (6/15)
Total Games	40% (12/30)	60% (18/30)
Max Games In A Row	3	5

Match Duration

2h 52m