Madison Keys Explains Why She Was Like 'A Zombie' After Winning Australian Open
News
Many might have assumed that Madison Keys celebrated hard with her team and loved ones after securing her first Grand Slam at the 2025 Australian Open. In reality, she was busy for days after that historic success.
Keys defeated Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling final to win the Australian Open. She also saved a match point to overcome Iga Swiatek in the semifinal during her run to glory at the season's opening Grand Slam.
Instead of being able to take it easy after earning the Grand Slam she had craved for several years, Keys was thrust into media commitments that did not give her any time to unwind and savor the moment.
In an appearance on the Rennae Stubbs Podcast, Keys recounted how she did not even get a chance to have a glass of water when she stepped off the court after the final because she needed to do several interviews.
"Immediately from the court, I went and did six live TV interviews in a row. I hadn't even showered yet and had no food. At one point, I was like, 'I am so thirsty. I haven't had a drink of water. It's been like an hour.'"
"I did that, and then finally had 20 minutes and had drug testing after that. I finally took a shower, shoveled food in my face, and did another two hours of media. We got back to the hotel at almost three, and of course, then I'm like, 'I can't sleep!'"
Keys did not get to sleep until 5 a.m., before getting up at 8 a.m. for more media commitments. The 2017 US Open runner-up had more in the two days after she returned to the United States, making it impossible for her to relax entirely after her efforts in Melbourne.
"I was just a zombie. I was so happy, but also, it was like I hadn't even taken a breath and absorbed anything that happened. Then we flew to New York, and I had an entire day of press."
"I got back to Florida on Tuesday night. Before the season had even started, we had agreed to do one of the commitments that I had to do was for that Wednesday."
The 30-year-old eventually told her agent that she could not face talking to the press anymore and just wanted to relax to finally savor what she achieved at the Australian Open.
"So I landed and had to go back in and do more stuff the next day. It was probably Thursday night when I finally said to my agent, I'm done. I can't; I'm putting my phone in a drawer. I cannot talk to anyone else. I can't be on my phone. It's going in a drawer. If anyone needs me, call Bjorn. I'll talk to everyone on my day (laughs)."
Keys, who recently spoke about how much going to therapy helped her, is one of the friendliest people in tennis. However, even someone like the American understandably got exhausted by talking to the media so much after the most significant moment of her career.
