MIAMI — It would be understandable if Madison Keys wanted to take it easy after her Australian Open victory, a lifelong dream come true.
But that`s not her mentality.
“In many ways, winning the Australian Open has made me want even more,” Keys told reporters ahead of the Miami Open. “It was such a great experience, and I definitely want to repeat it.”
“There`s also a sense of liberation. Achieving what felt like a long-awaited goal has helped me enjoy tennis more. I`m excited to continue playing with this freedom.”
Keys, seeded No. 5, began the year ranked No. 21 but has risen to No. 1 in the PIF Race to the WTA Finals, surpassing World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and the impressive 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva.
Following her 6-3, 6-3 victory over Elina Avanesyan, Keys boasts a 19-2record this season, with titles in Adelaide and Melbourne. Only Andreeva, with 20 wins, has more victories.
Keys` next opponent is teenage wild card Alexandra Eala, who upset No. 25 seed Jelena Ostapenko 7-6(2), 7-5.
Despite her success, Keys faced disappointment at Indian Wells after six weeks off. She had a strong run, including a dominant win over Belinda Bencic, marking her 16th straight win. She anticipated a rematch with Sabalenka, whom she defeated in the Australian Open final.
However, Sabalenka avenged her loss with a dominant 6-0, 6-1 victory, sending Keys back to Florida to reset.
When asked if it`s easier to move on from a blowout loss compared to a close defeat, Keys responded,
“Close matches with missed opportunities can be more emotionally challenging. My loss last week was simply frustrating because I couldn`t find my game. But once I was back on the practice court, I cleared my head and focused on the Miami Open.”
This upcoming match against Eala could be demanding, as Eala has already impressed with wins over Ostapenko and Katie Volynets. The 19-year-old could become the first Filipino player in the Open Era to defeat a Grand Slam champion at the WTA level since 2003. Naomi Osaka and Zheng Qinwen are other Asian teenagers who have achieved this in the past decade.
Keys herself was once a young prodigy. Having turned 30 last month and been a professional for over half her life, even she was surprised by her Melbourne victory.
“It`s a huge accomplishment, and I`m incredibly proud,” Keys said. “I`m focused on building on this and maintaining my momentum and confidence.”
