Katie Swan’s Wimbledon ends in the second round at the hands of Madison Keys

Katie Swan’s Wimbledon ends in the second round at the hands of Madison Keys Last updated 02 July 2026 3:09pm BST Save Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Add us as preferred source Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Katie Swan was beaten in straight sets by Madison Keys Credit: Adam Davy/PA Fiona Tomas Women’s Sport Reporter, at Wimbledon. Andy McGrath live updates Last updated 02 July 2026 3:09pm BST Save Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Add us as preferred source Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Katie Swan became the latest home player to exit Wimbledon after being beaten in straight sets by Madison Keys, as British interest in the women’s draw ended on day four of the Championships. Against a player ranked 174 places above her who claimed her third Eastbourne title last month, Swan was always going to face a tall order to reach the third round. But she should take heart from how she fronted up to the hard-hitting American, whose ferocious forehand reached speeds of 80mph. Not so long ago, Swan was ranked outside the top 1,000 and, blighted by back injuries, began contemplating an early retirement from tennis. The way she handled the free-swinging Keys, who was twice broken by the Brit in a topsy-turvy second set, could breathe new momentum into the 27-year-old’s career. In truth, Swan’s 6-1, 6-4 was not a reflection of her industriousness, at times belying her world no 196 ranking against Keys. Last year’s Australian Open champion mixed power with precision but delivered an under-par performance by her lofty standards. Her ball toss was all over the place in the first set, but she mixed finesse with firepower in the crucial moments. Despite showing more resolve in a rollercoaster of a second set - which at one point saw both players trade consecutive breaks - Swan will rue her missed opportunities. The Briton had eight break points in this match and only converted two of them, before netting a forehand at 4-4, paving the way for Keys to reach the finish line. More to follow... Latest updates Fiona Tomas Women’s Sport Reporter, at Wimbledon. Andy McGrath live updates 2:39PM Keys wins! 6-1, 6-4 Link copied to clipboard The American roars after belting a forehand winner and advances to the third round, where she could meet compatriot Amanda Anisimova. Katie Swan fought to the last, saving two match points and whipping up the crowd with her arms after putting away a delicate forehand volley. But ultimately, the chasm in experience and ability showed: she could not hurt Keys the way that her big-hitting opponent did. Nevertheless, the encouragement the British wild card will take from this week – as well as the £126,000 cheque – will encourage her. She waves to the crowd as she walks off Court No 1. Madison Keys celebrates her second round victory over Katie Swan Credit: Adam Davy/PA 2:31PM Swan* 1-6, 4-5 Keys Link copied to clipboard Whenever you think Swan is in this match, Keys finds another gear.  Down 15-40, Swan saves both break points, eliciting a roar from the crowd after crunching a forehand down the line to stay in the game. Keys-esque power, that. However, it is yet another break of serve. Swan only has herself to blame, two unforced errors from deuce, losing the game after clattering a straightforward, high-bouncing ball into the net. That is probably that. Keys will serve for the match. 2:25PM Swan 1-6, 4-4 Keys* Link copied to clipboard Good pressure from Swan, up 0-30 after coming to the net for the first point then finding a return in the corner. If she is going down, she is going down battling. She draws Keys out wide and wallops a backhand early into open court to make it 15-40. At the second time of asking, she breaks back. Keys has her running to make shots and stay in the rally, but Swan hangs tough and capitalises on a netted forehand. 2:20PM Swan* 1-6, 3-4 Keys Link copied to clipboard Swan quickly finds herself 0-40 down. That twist seems to have awoken the hyper-competitive beast in Keys, who is taking balls early and finding the corners. Another pinpoint return from the American, a picked-up forehand from Swan just wide of the line and the No 26 seed breaks back. 2:17PM Swan 1-6, 3-3 Keys* Link copied to clipboard Katie Swan has not stopped fighting. She clenches her fist as Keys sprays a forehand metres behind the base line and gives her break point. And the Briton breaks back! The crowd roars as she fights her opponent’s fire with fire and see Keys’ return drift out. The Princess of Wales and Sir Andy Murray are living every point in this match Credit: Mike Egerton/PA 2:12PM Swan* 1-6, 2-3 Keys Link copied to clipboard Two double faults conspire to put her a break point down. Swan is struggling with her serve; the ball toss is so wide it is almost in another London borough, though the wind is not helping. She gives Keys a dose of her own medicine, picking up an Exocet of a forehand, redirecting it short, cross-court. Sympathetic applause from the crowd on Court No 1 after a third double fault in this game. Keys sends her forehand long. However, she gets the break in the end as Swan nets. You cannot gift a grand slam winner so many points and expect to prevail. 2:05PM Swan 1-6, 2-2 Keys* Link copied to clipboard At the start of the game, Swan sent a forehand long on a Keys second serve and did not get another opening from there. Consummate grass-court tennis from the two-time quarter-finalist. 2:04PM Swan’ s missed chances Link copied to clipboard Katie Swan has had five break points in this match and she’s squandered all of them. That isn’t a stat she will want to read back. A forehand pass down the line had Keys on the ropes again but the American seems to step it up a gear when she is under pressure. The Briton, who is ranked 174 places below Keys, can take real heart from how she’s played so far today, but the gulf in quality is obvious. A hearty clap around Court 1 for the ball kid who has just chased a sparrow off the court.  2:01PM Swan* 1-6, 2-1 Keys Link copied to clipboard Much better from Swan, seeing out the game to 15 with a slider serve which Keys cannot get back. She has to convert any chances this set and create some doubt in her opponent’s mind. No 26 Madison Keys is in front against Katie Swan Credit: James Fearn/Getty Images 1:57PM Swan 1-6, 1-1 Keys* Link copied to clipboard After gifting Swan the first two points nervily, Keys finds her range again. Such depth on her returns, heaping pressure on Swan. A forehand down the line brings up another break point for the Briton, but she can hardly get her racket to a pacy, jumpy first serve. Canny play from Keys, who sees out the game with an ace, kissing the line. 1:54PM Keys in charge Link copied to clipboard Swan will pick up a pay cheque of £126,000 for reaching the second round and that’s looking as good as it will get for the 27-year-old. At least she avoided a first-set bagel. Can she up her level in the second?  Keys has had all sorts of problems with her ball toss in the Wimbledon sunshine but has looked in control from the start with her powerful groundstrokes and ability to coax Swan into the net. The mood around Court No 1 has fallen a bit flat.  1:53PM Swan* 1-6, 1-0 Keys Link copied to clipboard Keys is locked in at the moment, moving Swan around the baseline, using the drop shot then belting a forehand past her. But the Briton finds a valuable first serve when it matters, drawing out a couple of mistakes from her opponent. Off the mark right away in the second set, that will give confidence. 1:48PM Madison Keys wins the first set 6-1 Link copied to clipboard Keys clenches her fist as she walks to her chair. She has shown predictable power, experience and added more accuracy on her ground strokes as the set wore on, though Swan will rue not taking one of her four break point chances. Only 50 per cent on her first serve too, though the American is only four notches better. 1:46PM A deceptive scoreline Link copied to clipboard There is no doubt Swan is putting up a fight here and the scoreline doesn’t reflect her industriousness on the court. But at this level, you have to take your chances and Swan is just falling short.  The crowd is really appreciating her efforts against the hard-hitting American who, incidentally, has one of the most powerful forehands on the tour – in this championship already she’s reached speeds of up to 80mph, which is better than the average for most male players.  A cute lob by Swan at 3-1, 15-40 down on the Keys’ serve elicited roars and she followed it up with a sublime cross-court backhand which outfoxed the American.  And then she brought up the break point by winning the rally of the match so far. Keys had Swan chasing shadows but the Briton managed to hang in there and Keys’ net volley spun into the tramlines. Her entourage were on their feet and even Swan couldn’t quite believe it. 1:44PM Swan* 1-5 Keys Link copied to clipboard Madison Keys is in the driving seat. Too many balls into her hitting zone, allowing her to get Swan on the run and force her to try and make worldie returns – as the Briton did when 15-40 down. More aggression and depth needed from Swan or this match will quickly go away from her. The first set already almost has. 1:40PM Princess Kate sat with Andy Murray in the stands Link copied to clipboard Maybe the Princess of Wales’ presence will be a boon for Swan. Anne Keothavong is sat on her other side, all three chatting away. The Princess of Wales and Andy Murray watch on Credit: Mike Egerton/PA 1:39PM Swan 1-4 Keys* Link copied to clipboard Even Madison Keys’ second serve is hard to attack. So much top spin on it means Swan has to stand back and wait before swinging. Better from Swan, with a zipping backhand past her opponent at the net taking it to deuce.Then the shot of the match so far! Both players on the run, back and forth: Keys makes a low sliced volley, Swan just reaches the return and the American gets a racket to the return but directs it out. Alas, another opportunity at break point for Swan goes into the net and she shakes her head walking to her chair after two subsequent unforced errors. She is applying pressure but has nothing to show for it. 1:32PM Swan* 1-3 Keys Link copied to clipboard That is more like it for the wild card, winning the game to 30, despite a double fault. Helped by a few unforced errors from Key. 1:32PM Finesse versus fire Link copied to clipboard Britain’s Katie Swan, who faces a big challenge today against former Australian Open champion Madison Keys, is already a break down against the American 26th seed.  Keys, who was crowned Eastbourne champion for a third time last month, looks the more potent player and has been peppering the Briton with her fiery forehand.  Her serve, though, has been inconsistent and she was pushed all the way in a drawn-out third game in which Swan saw three break points come and go.  A huge cheer erupted as Swan charged towards the net to successfully return a drop shot from Keys, who has already double-faulted twice but has stretched Swan’s movement in the crucial moments.  Earlier, when the players walked out onto Court No 1 Swan had a big look up to survey the surroundings and gave a cheery wave. She isn’t used to playing on one of Wimbledon’s main show courts but she looks more than happy to be here.   1:27PM Swan 0-3 Keys* Link copied to clipboard A double fault to start the game and a needless forehand error at 30-30 brings up a break point for Katie Swan. Opportunity missed as the Bristolian misses, unable to handle the power. Too tentative. Keys plays a drop volley but Swan makes it from behind the base-line and slices a backhand to bring up another break point, clenching her fist. Her best shot of the match. But she hits into the net again on return. After three deuces, Keys struggles with her toss, catching the ball a few times and has another double fault. Break point down again, she pressures the net, Swan misses her passing forehand narrowly, into the tramlines and Keys capitalises on a couple of errors. 1:17PM Swan* 0-2 Keys Link copied to clipboard Keys makes light work of Swan’s second serve, two ferocious forehand winners taking her to 30-30. Another red-hot return gives her a break point. Swan cannot find a first serve, has a nervy net-cord second serve but wins the point fortuitously, her unclean return just about making it over the net and wrong-footing Keys. However, good depth from Keys brings up an unforced error and another chance, which she takes. Swan is broken on her first service game, not the confidence-builder she needed or wanted. She needs to meet Keys’ aggression with some of her own to stand a chance here. 1:12PM First set: Katie Swan 0-1 Madison Keys* (denotes server) Link copied to clipboard Swan won the toss and elected to receive. She wins the first point as Keys nets but a few well-positioned first serves in the corner of the box puts the favourite back in the driving seat. Another forehand finds the middle of the net to make it 40-30. The Briton has Keys on the run, scrambling to make a sliced forehand, but she recovers her court position and smokes a backhand down the line to win the game. 1:02PM The players walk out on Court No 1 Link copied to clipboard Cheers of “Let’s go Katie, let’s go!” from the crowd as they are engulfed by on-court sunshine. The vastly-experienced Keys laboured to victory over compatriot Kayla Day on Tuesday 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3, throwing in seven double faults and 47 unforced errors – mitigated by 41 winners. That is her all-power game summed up: high risk, high reward. If her radar is similarly off today, world No 196 Swan will have a chance. She knows the storm that is coming: they have faced each other before at Wimbledon, with Keys winning 6-3, 6-4 in 2021. 12:52PM Princess Kate expected to watch Katie Link copied to clipboard The Princess of Wales is in the grounds today and could be on No 1 court for this match.  The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) patron earlier surprised punters who had been queueing since the wee hours, handing out tickets. The Princess of Wales visits Wimbledon Credit: Eddie Mulholland for The Telegraph   12:41PM Swan’s stern test Link copied to clipboard Hello and welcome to coverage from the second round of Wimbledon as Katie Swan plays No 26 seed Madison Keys in the women’s singles. The wild card recipient was the first Briton to win a match at SW19 this year, stopping the rot with her 6-4, 6-4 victory over Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu on Tuesday. She aptly called it a “full circle moment”, given it was veteran Begu who she beat in 2018 to progress, the only other time she has made it to this stage. It is fair to say that former Australian Open champion Keys, a heavy hitter who has twice reached the quarter-final here, will pose a much sterner challenge. Although it took the American three sets to get through her first-round match, the 31-year-old won the Eastbourne warm-up tournament and will walk onto No 1 Court as the overwhelming favourite. Madison Keys beat compatriot Kayla Day 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 in her Wimbledon opener Credit: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images Swan has taken flight up the WTA rankings in remarkable fashion. Three years ago, she was positioned just outside the world’s top 100 and vying with Katie Boulter to be British No 1. Since then, the 27-year-old Bristolian has struggled with injury problems and took time off to rebuild. She even spent two months working as a coach at a club in Kansas, where her family moved when she was 14.  However, never losing her love for tennis, she gave it another go in her mid-20s and has worked her way back up. Fourteen months ago, she was No 1,114 in the world, now she is inside the top 200. The £126,000 she will earn for making it this far means that she can travel with a coach. This talented pianist, who told Telegraph Sport earlier this year that she would love to have therapy dogs courtside, was pictured on BBC Sport minutes ago in an England shirt.  The Wimbledon title is not coming home – football probably is not either, based on yesterday’s nail-biting showing against DR Congo – but pulling off a win here would be a real coup in the biggest match of her career.  Swan and Keys are due on court at 1pm BST.