With the Australian Open finally wrapped up, players are now under scrutiny. However, Madison Keys is shining brightly after delivering an exhilarating match against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. This comes after a challenging 2024 filled with early exits and injuries to her shoulder and hamstring that cut her season short in Wuhan; the American has made a stunning comeback in 2025! Keys excelled in her tournaments, reaching the quarterfinals in Auckland and clinching the Adelaide International title before going on to win the Australian Open—her first Grand Slam title in nearly 16 years! Insiders are buzzing with excitement and high hopes for her future.
On January 25, Keys won against the two-time defending champion in a thrilling three-set battle with scores of 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. The match was a rollercoaster ride, showcasing Keys’ powerful game as she took the first set before Sabalenka fought back fiercely in the second. The final set had fans on the edge of their seats as both players exchanged intense rallies, but Keys ultimately sealed her victory with a crucial break.
Reflecting on her prowess during the tournament, former ATP pro-Mats Wilander shared his thoughts on the KickServeRadio.com podcast with Andy Zodin. He said, “Yeah, I think that she is more mature than Sabalenka was and I think that Madison Keys, with having one, the monkey is off the back, I think she is going to be unbelievably dangerous in the upcoming three majors this year.” Could that be true?
Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – July 7, 2024 Madison Keys of the U.S. reacts during her fourth round match against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Previously, Madison reached the finals of the 2017 US Open and made it to the fourth round at Wimbledon in both 2015 and 2023. At the French Open, she reached the semifinals in 2018. Wilander noted that this Australian Open victory could boost her confidence: “Because now she knows she can do it and now she knows that you don’t have to pick winners left, right, and center the whole time. You just have to win the big points.”
Things are looking great for the 29-year-old player. Following her win, she climbed to No. 7 in the rankings—a career high she achieved once before in October 2016. However, this means she “will no longer be eligible to participate” in WTA’s ATX Open in Austin next month due to a rule preventing more than one top-10 player from competing in a WTA 250 tournament.
With expectations soaring for her potential, some have even suggested she could follow a path similar to Emma Raducanu—winning one Grand Slam and then struggling afterward. But Andy Roddick might just have the perfect answer to that!
Roddick shares his thoughts on the Raducanu-Keys comparison
Emma Raducanu pulled off the ultimate upset in 2021 when she became the first qualifier ever to win the US Open. At just 18 years old, she didn’t drop a single set throughout the entire tournament, instantly becoming a household name. But with that sudden fame came a ton of pressure. In a heartfelt interview with The Sunday Times in 2023, she opened up about her journey, saying, “That moment on the court, when I was celebrating, I was like, I would literally trade any struggle in the world for this moment. Since then I’ve had a lot of setbacks, one after the other. I am resilient, my tolerance is high, but it’s not easy. And sometimes I think to myself I wish I’d never won the U.S. Open.” Talk about keeping it real!
Now, as Madison Keys steps into the spotlight after her thrilling Australian Open victory, Andy Roddick has some thoughts on the crazy expectations that come with success. On his podcast ‘Served,’ he vented about how players are constantly under pressure to deliver more. He said, “As we’re kind of moving around the sun for a couple of rotations… And then I saw myself going, well, it could go either way. And then I stopped. I’m like, who f****** cares? Who cares? She did it. If she did it and the shoulders get to a point of relief that it’s hard to recommit, great. And if it’s all of a sudden wind at your back, carefree, and she rips off another two, great. Who f–king cares? And I kind of catch myself. I’m like, why are we so stupid? Why can we not just enjoy something for more than like a day?”
It’s like winning one isn’t enough; suddenly everyone expects you to chase legendary status! Madison has worked hard for this moment, and while we can’t predict what’s next for her, one thing’s for sure—the tennis world is full of surprises! Will Wilander’s prediction for Keys come true in the months ahead? We’ll just have to wait and see!
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