Keys started the year in brilliant fashion, defeating two -time defending champion Aryana Sabalenka in Melbourne and won the Grand Slam title for the first time.
But after the French Open reached the quarter -finals, the 30 -year -old faced a surprising third -round Wimbledon for 37 -year -old Laura Sigmund.
In New York, Keys made 37 unexpected errors in the first set, but Zarajua managed to take it on a tie-break after snatching the five set points.
The match was seen there for the keys of the match as it was scattered with a 3–0 lead in the next set, but the 2017 runner-up in New York lost four consecutive games.
She managed to move the set to a tie-break, but double defects and errors helped Zarajua a decisive.
Keys coach and husband Byorn Fratangelo offered advice and encouragement – said at one point: “It’s just a game, nothing is riding on the line” – but American drama remained uncertain.
“I want to win, but [I was] Just feel like a way to win. I can’t just separate myself from it, “Keys said.
“Once you start playing badly, it is all like snowball.
“I felt that I was just slow, I was not looking at things in the way I wanted, which I think there were many bad decisions and lazy footwork.”
Zarazua won his first win against a top -10 player, when Keys netted at the match point, sparking a wild ceremony between Mexican’s aid team after a three -hour and 10 -minute competition.
