Andy Roddick let rip at professional tennis after Madison Keys was eft unable to enter a tournament.
The 29-year-old is flying high after her securing her first Grand Slam title with a thrilling victory at the Australian Open.
Keys defeated Aryna Sabalenka in three sets to become champion and she is now back in the world’s top 10 as a result.
She wanted to continue her momentum by competing at the ATX Open in Texas, but she was unable to do so due to a strange rule, which left Andy Roddick very frustrated.
Andy Roddick slams tennis for strange rule that forced Madison Keys to withdraw from a tournament
Madison Keys planned to compete at Texas’ ATX Open from February 22 – March 2.
But she is unable to participate because according to WTA Tour rules, only one top 10 player can feature in tournaments worth 250 rankings points.
World number six Jessica Pegula had already committed to the event and therefore Keys will miss out on the chance to play in front of her home fans.
This infuriated Andy Roddick, who thinks this model is not sustainable for the smaller tournaments on the tennis circuit.
“Until you make an independent deal with a tournament and then you fly under our rules,” he said on an episode of his ‘Served podcast’. “It’s so two handed and I am sure there is a technical piece where they are going to be fine.
“How is he ever again going to do a deal with someone who is top 30 in the world? Just to get screwed over if it doesn’t work. You are literally weakening the toughest professional tournament business even more, you are diluting it.
“How are we going to support the smaller markets? It is an act of idiocy that we are having this conversation and that a tournament that is four weeks from now, now what do you do? Tennis is going to tennis. It’s so dumb and short-sighted. Always.”
Where will Madison Keys play next?
Keys was due to compete at the Qatar Open, but she withdrew due to a hamstring injury.
Therefore, her first tournament as a Grand Slam champion is likely to be the Dubai Tennis Championships, which will run from February 17-23.
Keys does not have any points to defend at this event after she missed the 2024 tournament due to injury. The World number seven has yet to win a tournament in the Middle East.
Following that event Keys will likely head back to the United States to play in the Indian Wells Masters and Miami Open.
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