Madison Keys was listed as the third seed at this week's Connecticut Open, a premier tournament often used by players as a warmup for the U.S. Open. The American was scheduled to meet Elena Vesnina in her first round match tomorrow evening, until injury struck earlier today.

“I was practicing this morning on one of the side courts and I hit a ball weird... I hit a forehand, I probably hit it late, and as soon as I finished the stroke I knew that I did something. I kind of threw my neck out on the right side and can’t really move my head right now, which obviously makes it hard to play tennis. I really wanted to play here and I had every intent of playing,” the twenty-one-year old told VAVEL.

She has struggled through this injury before.

“This has happened before. [It usually took] three or four days [to recover]. I’ve usually been fortunate enough that it hasn’t been during a tournament. I have to actually see a doctor and see what they’re saying but hopefully it’s nothing too serious and I’ll be okay. I’m going to go to New York and hopefully see a doctor either today or tomorrow. It’s definitely not the timing that I wanted it to happen if it had to happen but I’m just going to try and do whatever I can to be okay for the Open." 

Having had a successful tournament at the Rogers Cup in Montreal--where she fell to Simona Halep in the final--and a great first run at the Olympics--in which she was just edged out by Petra Kvitova for the bronze medal--Keys was devastated that she would not have the opportunity to contend for her first Connecticut Open trophy.

“I’m really disappointed. Coming off of a good Montreal and then having a good Olympics I really wanted to have another good week before the U.S. Open. Just really disappointed that I can’t play here.”

She also touched on her first Olympic experience.

“It was great, it was something that growing up I always wanted to do and it was such an experience for me. Being a part of Team USA was amazing and I’d always be happy to get to do that again.”

What are her goals for the rest of the season?

“I really want to have solid weeks at tournaments and have a really good U.S. Open, and hopefully I can make Singapore.”