Madison Keys retires one game from victory, Jasmine Paolini progresses, results, highlights

Jasmine Paolini is through to her maiden Wimbledon quarter-final after a teary Madison Keys was forced to retire late in their match with a leg injury.

Keys appeared to injure her groin in the third set and from then on was hampered. She grabbed at her groin several times and was unable to chase down balls.

Having at one point led 5-1 in the deciding set, the 12th-seeded American was still up a break 5-4 when she took a nine-minute medical timeout.

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Madison Keys wipes away tears after retiring from her fourth-round match at Wimbledon. Stan Sport

Almost literally on one leg, Keys bravely returned to the court – and even played a couple of stunning winners – but the writing was on the wall.

Paolini broke to level the score at 5-5. Keys played one more stunning backhand winner but pulled the pin after she barely moved to chase a Paolini serve.

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"Right now, I'm so sorry for her. To end the match like this, it's bad," Paolini said post-match.

"I think we played a really, really good match. It was really tough, a lot of ups and downs. I'm feeling a little bit happy but also sad for her, it's not easy to win like that.

"It was a rollercoaster. I started really well, I was really focused on court but then she played great ­tennis, she raised her level and it was tough to return balls because they were really fast.

Jasmine Paolini and Madison Keys embrace at the net as Keys is forced to retire with injury from their fourth-round meeting. Robert Prange via Getty Images

"I was ­repeating to myself to stay there, you never know in tennis. In the end, I know she retired, but I'm here with the win."

Paolini had earlier won the first set comfortably 6-3 and was a game away from victory when up 5-1 in the second.

From there though, Keys mounted a fightback and looked in control. She clinched the second set in a tiebreaker and raced to her own 5-1 in the deciding third before injury struck.

Keys was twice unable to serve out the match before the injury sealed her fate.

The 29-year-old has been plagued by injuries throughout her career. The 2017 US Open runner-up has missed significant time with wrist, knee, neck, abdominal, back and shoulder injuries.

"What a fight from Madison Keys," commentator Katherine Downes said after the retirement.

Madison Keys pulls up lame during her women's singles match against Jasmine Paolini. Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images

"From a set down, she had this match on her racquet. Not the way Jasmine Paolini would've wanted to make it through to her first Wimbledon quarter final.

"Madison Keys is distraught."

Paolini will next meet 19th-ranked American Emma Navarro in the quarter finals.

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