After clinching the Grand Slam title, Madison Keys is learning to balance her personal expectations and the reality of the game. The tennis star, who recently joined the Grand Slam winners’ club, confessed to grappling with this challenging aspect of her career, especially following her latest match in the third round of the Indian Wells event.
Keys, the fifth seed in the tournament, was put to the test during her face-off against Elise Mertens. It was a thrilling encounter, with Keys eventually emerging victorious, securing a 6-2 6-7 (8) 6-4 win. Yet, her journey to the finish line was not without its share of hiccups. The American sportswoman missed out on two match points while serving at 5-3 in the second set and failed to cash in on her two match points in the set’s tie-break.
Her recent success in the Australian Open had seen her in top form, steamrolling over formidable opponents like Danielle Collins, Elina Svitolina, Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, and Aryna Sabalenka. Riding high on a 14-match winning spree, Keys now faces the challenging task of accepting that not all matches will be smooth sailing, as evident in her recent encounter with Mertens.
Keys, reflecting on her post-Grand Slam journey, emphasized the necessity of staying grounded in reality. Despite her victory over Mertens, the 30-year-old admitted that her performance was not up to par. She further revealed that she was learning to manage her expectations for the first time in her career.
Keys reminisced about her spectacular run in Australia, saying, “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.” The current world No. 5 highlighted the importance of staying aware of the highs and lows of the game, accepting that there were matches in Australia where she didn’t play well, and things didn’t go as planned.
As she advances in Indian Wells, Keys is set to face 19th seed Donna Vekic in her next match. Vekic recently upset 10th seeded Emma Navarro, making the upcoming encounter a much-anticipated event. Amidst the growing excitement, Keys’s focus on staying grounded in reality is sure to serve as an inspiring lesson for aspiring athletes.
