Madison Keys‘ journey to tennis stardom began when she was just 10, moving with her family from Illinois to Florida to train at Chris Evert’s renowned academy. The expectations were sky-high, and she dreamed of clinching a Grand Slam title. Fast forward to her major debut at the US Open as a 16-year-old, where she won her first-round match, setting the stage for a storied career. Yet, it took 46 main draw appearances, including a final at the 2017 US Open, for Keys to achieve her ultimate goal. What does she have to say about this?
Keys is basking in the glory of her historic Australian Open win, and it’s not just her own achievement that’s making waves. At the Charleston Open, Keys shared how many players have approached her to celebrate her remarkable feat at her age. “It’s actually amazing,” she said. “I’ve had so many people come up to me and tell me that it was amazing that I did it. Obviously, I did it right before I turned 30, so everyone who is close to 30, 30, or 31 is still playing some of their best tennis.” This newfound appreciation for her age and performance is inspiring many in the tennis world.
Keys’ Australian Open victory was nothing short of spectacular. She defeated top seed Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling three-set match, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, becoming the second-oldest woman to win her maiden Australian Open title in the Open Era at 29 years old. Her achievement is all the more remarkable given the tough competition she faced, including beating several seeded players along the way. Keys also draws inspiration from fellow players like Jessica Pegula.
Madison Keys USA mit dem Pokal, Trophäe, Siegerehrung, Presentation, Australian Open 2025, Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. *** Madison Keys USA with the cup, trophy, award ceremony, presentation, Australian Open 2025, Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Copyright: xJuergenxHasenkopfx
Keys emphasized this point by saying, “I mean, honestly, even Jess (Jessica Pegula) last year making her first US Open final, it’s…everyone’s playing their best tennis and I feel like age is just a number and as long as we’re having fun out there and playing well I think it’s some of our best tennis.” Pegula’s journey to her first Grand Slam singles final at the 2024 US Open was a remarkable one. At 30, she became the oldest first-time finalist at the US Open since Flavia Pennetta in 2015.
She broke through her quarterfinal curse by defeating World No. 1 Iga Swiatek and then rallied against Karolina Muchova in the semifinals, winning 1-6, 6-4, 6-2. Although she was defeated by Sabalenka in the final, 7-5, 7-5, her achievement inspired many.
Now, Madison is back on the court, making it to the semifinals of the Indian Wells Open. However, she faced a second-round exit at the Miami Open, but she’s hoping to get back up to speed. But how has winning the Australian Open impacted her?
Madison Keys reflects on life after Australian Open win
In January, Keys stunned the world by defeating Aryna Sabalenka to win the Australian Open. The elation was palpable as she traveled home with the trophy, only to be met with a surprising question: Now what? Keys spent three days on her couch, feeling emotionally drained. “It was really emotionally draining,” she shared. “I mean, you were just experiencing the highest of highs and then you come home and it just kind of ends. I was basically comatose just trying to recover.” Former players warned her about this post-Slam letdown, saying, “The existential crisis is totally normal.”
After her Australian Open victory, Keys played in several events, including winning the Adelaide International and reaching the semifinals at the Indian Wells Open, where she lost to Sabalenka. However, she faced a second-round exit at the Miami Open. Due to a leg injury, Keys had to withdraw from both the Dubai Tennis Championships and the Qatar TotalEnergies Open. Additionally, she was ineligible to compete in the ATX Open due to her rise in the rankings, which made her a Top 10 player.
Now, Keys is back in action, competing at the Charleston Open. She’s already made it past Caroline Dolehide and is set to face the winner of Anna Kalinskaya and Catherine McNally next. As she navigates this new chapter, Keys is rethinking her approach. Her first practice back was “tragic,” but she’s determined to keep pushing forward.
With her career-high ranking of No. 5, Keys is ready to take on the next challenge. Will she launch her next title bid before the clay season kicks off? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
The post “Just a Number”- Madison Keys Reacts to the Ripple Effect of Inspiration From Her Grand Slam Breakthrough at 30 appeared first on EssentiallySports.