“I think all of those kind of years of struggle and ups and downs just kind of led me to this point.” Madison Keys said back in March during a press conference amidst her Indian Wells campaign. The 30-year-old reflected on the constant setbacks she went through to accomplish her dream, winning her first Grand Slam. Prior to making it happen, in January at the Rod Laver Arena against World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, Keys witnessed heartbreaking failures. She lost five times in the semis and missed out on the trophy in a previous final from the 2017 US Open. But the mission was accomplished earlier this season, thanks to her 2025 Australian Open triumph. So is there anything left for her to get excited about? Seems like Keys is all about adjusting targets on the next milestone as she gears up for Roland Garros.
Now that her ‘maiden slam dream’ has been achieved, Keys is trying to focus on adding more majors to her cabinet. But it seems the Grand Slam Effect is still chasing her in more ways than one. Especially when it comes to transitions, she’s witnessed as a player. Both on the court and off it. But have they been significant?
Ahead of her French Open campaign in Paris, Keys sat down for a pre-event press conference. Few of the reporters were eager to know if things have really changed for the slam champion. Keys simply responded, “I keep getting this question.” She continued, “I don’t really think much has changed in my life other than there’s more interview requests. And people want to talk to me.”
Image Credits: Madison Keys/Instagram
“But I think I had a pretty successful career already. So it was just kind of the one thing that kind of felt like everyone was just waiting to happen. So I don’t think it’s changed that dramatically for me. I think the biggest thing is just the perspective shift that I’ve had. And it’s a little bit funny having had the same goal for the entirety of your career and then finally achieving that and then having to, kind of, sit down and shift the mindset a little bit because you actually did it and now for the first time you get to realign those goals.”
When asked to explain the ‘perspective shift’, she added, “From the time that I was 14, I just always wanted to win a Grand Slam, and what would that feel like. And it was just always kind of an unknown, and for 16 years it was just always kind of still the elusive question,”
But when she actually did it, she felt, “‘Okay, wait, this is the first time that I don’t know anymore. I did it’. So I think that’s just the biggest thing and just kind of shifting past goals that you have never achieved and setting new ones.” Definitely, the goal for her is to earn a new title at a new Grand Slam event. But can she really make it happen at the Roland Garros? Unfortunately, the recent form may prove to be a big concern for her clay campaign. How?
Madison Keys goes into the French Open with an unstable form
After scripting history at the Happy Slam, Madison Keys had to take a break from tennis. Reason? She sustained a leg injury, due to which she missed out on the entire Middle East swing. After coming back to Indian Wells, the World No. 7 showed that her form was intact. She made it to the semis of the Masters 1000 event. But in subsequent campaigns, the cracks finally began to appear.
At the Miami Open, she couldn’t go past the R32 after teenage sensation, Filipino Alexandra Eala, thrashed her in straight sets. Then, playing in Charleston, she failed to impress at all. Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya ousted her with a score line of 6-2, 6-4. While she did reach the QF in Madrid, Keys struggled again at the Italian Open. Her compatriot and rising talent, Peyton Stearns, eliminated her in R32.
Now what’s even more concerning is the fact that her failure has come on clay lately. And it’s the same surface the French Open will feature. Entering the second major of the season with a weak form may ring alarm bells for the American. Also, because of her past record at the Roland Garros. For the uninitiated, she made her event debut back in 2013. Since then, Keys has only made an impact twice on the Parisian clay court.
In 2018 and 2019, she entered the semifinal and quarterfinal rounds, respectively. But in the last six years, she’s not been able to imitate such results. Speaking of recent form in Paris, her best run was reaching the R16 in 2022. In short, the road ahead is looking extremely tough. What are your thoughts on Keys’ chances at the 2025 French Open? Will she manage to defy the odds and clinch the winner’s trophy? Let us know in the comments below.
The post Madison Keys Breaks Silence on Life Beyond Her 16-Year Dream Ahead of French Open appeared first on EssentiallySports.