Madison Keys is a tennis powerhouse! With seven WTA titles to her name, including that Cincinnati Open win, she’s been a force on the court since she was practically a kid. Now, at 29, she’s gunning for her first Grand Slam title right here at the Australian Open. It hasn’t been an easy journey, though. Last year was a bit of a rollercoaster with injuries. She had to pull out of the Aussie Open with a shoulder problem, and then a hamstring injury sidelined her at Wimbledon. But through thick and thin, her husband and coach, Bjorn Fratangelo, has been right there with her. So how did this dynamic duo meet?

Keys and Fratangelo first crossed paths at a training facility in Boca Raton, Florida. They were part of the same group of friends, and their connection grew naturally. Soon, both moved to Orlando and ended up living in the same apartment complex.

From there, it didn’t take long for a romance to blossom. The couple started dating in 2017, and after six years together, Fratangelo popped the question in March 2023. Just a year later, in November 2024, the couple tied the knot in a star-studded wedding that had Jessica Pegula and Sloane Stephens in attendance. But how did this personal relationship turn to a professional one?

Their relationship took a professional turn in 2023 when the American tennis player found herself in a tough spot. After a second-round loss at Roland Garros in that year, Keys was without a coach. The World No.10 had parted ways with her coach after the Charleston tournament and struggled alone during her European swing.

When she came home, she turned to Fratangelo for help. According to ATP Tour he had asked, “Are you sure? Because we’ve done a great job of kind of staying out of each other’s careers over the seven years we’ve been together. And she said yes.” It was also a good opportunity for Fratangelo to get back into the game after stepping away from it due to a foot injury.

Together, they’ve turned their personal bond into a professional advantage, and the results are speaking for themselves.

Madison Keys opened up on the benefit of having her coach as her husband

One standout moment of their collaboration came during Madison Keys’ impressive run to the semifinals at the 2023 US Open. For Keys, the best part of having her husband as her coach isn’t just the wins—it’s the time they get to spend together. “The best part [of being coached by her husband] is that we actually get to see each other,” the American tennis star said in an interview with Grand Slam Daily.

Reflecting on their early days, she shared, “When we started dating, he was also playing, and we were not on the same schedule, so we would not spend a whole lot of time together. So it’s great that we actually get to spend time together.”

The 29-year-old also hilariously admitted there are challenges to having Fratangelo as her coach. “The not-so-great part is having to tell him that he was right a lot of the time, not super fun,” she joked.

Fratangelo’s impact as a coach is evident in moments like the World No.10’s fourth-round match against Elena Rybakina. Midway through the match, Keys had slipped into a defensive style, allowing her opponent to dictate play. During the break between the second and third sets, she approached her courtside box, seeking guidance. Fratangelo didn’t sugarcoat it.

“If you lose this match playing the way you play, we go home and that’s it; 30 hours, we’re home,” he told her. “You lose this match how you’ve lost the second set? You’re gonna be a little bit bummed about it for a while.” His blunt honesty lit a fire under Keys, and she went on to win the match 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.

Now, Keys faces one of the toughest challenges of her career. At the Australian Open, she has battled her way to the semifinals, where she’s set to take on World No. 2 Iga Swiatek on Rod Laver Arena.

Can she take one step closer to the title and turn this semifinal challenge into her next triumph?