Being away from family while on tour is tough, but Madison Keys found a solution in 2023 when she asked her husband, Bjorn Fratangelo, to coach her. The timing was perfect since he had just retired from professional tennis. Looks like this partnership has finally paid off. With his support, she’s making waves in the 2025 season, winning the Adelaide International and making it to the SFs at the Australian Open for the third time. However, things didn’t go as smoothly as they hoped at first.

Fratangelo, who played professionally for nearly a decade and qualified for all four Grand Slams, was hesitant to step into the coaching role. Bjorn’s wildcard win over Sam Querrey at the 2016 French Open propelled him into the top 100 for the first time, reaching a career-high of No. 99 on June 6, 2016, the 60th birthday of his legendary namesake, Björn Borg. However, injuries plagued him, leading to his last competitive match at a challenger event in Cary in 2023.

In early 2023, Keys parted ways with her coach, Georgi Rumenov, and navigated the clay-court season independently. Following the French Open, she sought guidance from Fratangelo. According to The Atlantic, she knew it might blur the lines between their personal and professional lives, but believed they could figure it out. Fratangelo, however, initially declined, saying, “No. Too weird. Too complicated.” It was only after his own coach told him that was the wrong answer that he reconsidered. Once he agreed, the results started to show, but it took some adjustment.

Keys revealed that Bjorn initially wanted to just be her cheerleader and supporter instead of offering advice. “It got to the point,” she said, “where I was like, ‘I’m asking you for help. If you see something, you have to tell me what I’m doing wrong.’”

Their story began back in 2006 when they met as teenagers training at the same facility in Boca Raton, Florida. Years later, their friendship turned into romance, and by 2017, they were officially dating. In March 2023, Bjorn Fratangelo proposed to Keys at home after she returned from a tournament in Dubai. The couple tied the knot on November 23, 2024, in Charleston in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by family and friends.

In September 2023, Bjorn opened up about their coaching journey on the ATP Tour website. He admitted that it didn’t start well with some tough losses for Madison. “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,” he shared. But once they committed to this new role, it became a welcome distraction for both.

Now, as they work together closely, Madison has thrived under Bjorn’s guidance. She recently made it to the semifinals of the 2025 Australian Open and is eager to clinch her first Grand Slam title. Being with him on tour has helped her immensely on the court, proving that their partnership is paying off in more ways than one!

Keys reveals the impact of having Fratangelo on tour with her

Madison Keys is off to a fantastic start in the 2025 season, recently clinching her second Adelaide International title. She triumphed over Jessica Pegula in a thrilling three-set match, finishing with scores of 6-3, 4-6, and 6-1. This victory is especially meaningful for Keys after a challenging 2024 season, during which she battled a shoulder injury that kept her out of the Australian Open and a hamstring issue that forced her to withdraw from Wimbledon in the fourth round.

Speaking about what’s helped her through it all, Keys said in an interview with Grand Slam Daily on January 15, “The best part [of being coached by her husband] is that we actually get to see each other.”

Reflecting on their relationship, she added, “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.”

Now headed into the semifinals of the 2025 Australian Open to face World No.2 Iga Swiatek, Keys is looking to carry her momentum forward. The challenge is steep as she prepares to take on the five-time Grand Slam champion. But with Bjorn’s support both on and off the court, Keys seems ready for the fight ahead. Can this dynamic duo continue their winning streak and help Madison clinch her maiden Grand Slam title?