Australian Open Champion Keys 'Managing Expectations' In Her First Tournament Back
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Madison Keys opened up about having to manage expectations after winning her first Grand Slam title this season.
Like most tennis players, for most of her tennis career, Keys had one goal in her mind, and that was winning a major title. She came very close in 2017 when she played in the US Open final. However, she lost the final match to Sloane Stephens, 3-6, 0-6.
Eight years later, when it seemed that the 30-year-old American likely wouldn't win any Grand Slam titles in her career, she proved everyone wrong and had a sensational run to the trophy at the Australian Open.
Unfortunately, Keys hasn't competed since winning the Australian Open, because she struggled with an injury that kept her out of the Qatar Open in Doha as well as the Dubai Championships.
She returned to the tennis courts in her home country at the 2025 Indian Wells Open. The Australian Open champion beat Anastasia Potapova and Elise Mertens in her first two matches.
It's Keys' first tournament as a Grand Slam champion, and it's not a surprise that she faced many questions about her great win in Melbourne.
At the moment, the WTA World No. 5 player is on a 14-match winning streak, and after beating Mertens, she was asked whether she was surprised by being able to follow up on her Australian Open win despite facing the expectations.
"I don't think I'm surprised. It's just something different, for the first time that I'm dealing with and trying to manage my own expectations. I think today, obviously, I don't think I played at 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, I mean, obviously it's a learning experience, and it's a good position to be in."
Having to deal with own expectations after such a big win is something understandable, and also, as Keys said, it's a good problem to have.
It can also help the American player to increase her level. She revealed that she now expects more from her, as she knows that she's capable of winning the biggest trophies.
"I think it's just you start to expect a certain level from yourself. I think overall, in Australia, I played some really good tennis, and I think the further away from it you get, the more you kind of forget about the lulls of matches and the moments where you weren't playing great, and you kind of just remember all of the really great, fun stuff."
"So I think it's also just having a good grip on reality, and that sometimes, as great as Australia was and all the wins that I got, there were still some moments in matches where I didn't play great or things got away from me. So just being really conscious of that."
Keys will now need to prepare for her fourth-round match in Indian Wells. She could have played against compatriot Emma Navarro, but since the American player lost, Keys will take on Donna Vekic.
