“That was a pretty heavy burden to carry around,” said Madison Keys after winning the Australian Open title in January. Having gotten close to the Grand Slam glory twice before – making it to the final of the US Open in 2017 and the semifinal of the French Open in 2018 – and having failed both times, it was quite natural that Keys was feeling the pressure as the summit clash approached at the Melbourne Park. However, an emphatic win against the World number 1, Aryna Sabalenka, meant the 30-year-old freed herself of the burden she was carrying all these years. However, she’s not done yet. Keys believes her biggest challenge now is to fulfill her own expectations.

“Be Brave. Go for it.” This was the mantra that helped Madison Keys become the first player in 20 years to beat the World number one (Aryna Sabalenka) and the World number two (Iga Swiatek) en route to the Australian Open title. The road to her title triumph in Melbourne was more like a “rollercoaster” ride filled with “a lot of anxiety” and mental pressure. However, her team ensured she kept believing in her abilities and overcame the challenges that came her way.

Speaking about the contributions of her team, Keys said, “They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself and helped me every step of the way.” Well, understandable! Without a supportive team around, it’s near impossible to clinch two back-to-back titles right at the start of the season, including a Slam. Now, Keys is looking to go three in a row at the Indian Wells. She got off to an impressive start with a dominating performance in her first match against Russia’s Anastasia Potapova. However, in the next round, it took her three sets to beat the Belgian star, Elise Mertens.

Tennis : Australie Open 2025 – Melbourne – 25/01/2025 Tennis : Australian Open 2025 – Melbourne – Madison Keys MELBOURNE PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRAxBEL Copyright: xSVxThe BNP Paribas Open is Madison Keys’ first tournament after her title triumph in Melbourne. When asked about her experience of entering a tournament as a Slam champion, Keys remarked, “It’s just something different, you know, for the first time that I’m dealing with and trying to manage my own expectations.” The American further added, “I think, you know, today obviously I don’t think I played my best level, and I think that was more frustrating just because I’m starting to expect a little bit more of myself. So just trying to navigate that. But, yeah, I mean, obviously it’s a learning experience, and it’s a good position to be in.” Quite clearly, the World number 5 is aiming to be more consistent going forward.

Previously, in another interview, when Keys was asked about her next goals, she had said, “The goal is to win another Grand Slam, but the reality is that there are many very talented players, and it is very difficult to win one, so maybe it won’t happen again, and that’s okay. For now, my goal is to be really honest in managing my expectations and to continue focusing and doing the things I did really well.” Well, trusting the process and working hard – that’s the evergreen mantra for everyone, isn’t it?

What do Keys’ peers think about her incredible triumph in Melbourne, though?

Coco Gauff joins Jessica Pegula to highlight how staying in high spirits helped Madison Keys win the AO title

During the off-season, Madison Keys tied the knot with her long-time partner and coach Bjorn Frantangelo in a wedding ceremony in Charleston. That was “the happiest day” in her life, by her own admission. Following that memorable moment in November 2024, she has already clinched two titles – the Adelaide International and the Australian Open. Is keeping her spirits high the secret to her recent success?

Well, her compatriot, Jessica Pegula, recalled the struggles of Madison Keys. Speaking about how her good moments off the court led to her success on the court, Pegula said, “Seeing her kind of go through all those moments and maybe second-guessing herself, whether she was ever going to get one, you know, seeing her win, it was just really nice. It was a really nice moment for her, especially post-wedding, being a newlywed, and all these great things going on in her life.”

Recently, even Coco Gauff shed light on how Madison Keys’ personal bliss helped her relax and accomplish her dream of winning a major title. “She just looks a lot happier lately. I think that was kind of the biggest change more than anything technically in her game,” Gauff said. What do you think about Maddie Keys’ incredible resurgence?