Madison Keys credits therapy for helping her to Australian Open title

Madison Keys displayed the potential to become a top singles champion early in her career. She possesses powerful weapons on the court, such as a strong serve and lethal baseline hitting, and has always been known for her outstanding athleticism.

In 2017, at just 22 years old, Keys reached the US Open final, where her first Grand Slam title seemed within reach. However, she lost in the final to compatriot Sloane Stephens 3-6, 0-6, and subsequently suffered semi-final losses at the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open (twice) over the next six years. For some time, Keys had been plagued by a feeling that her destiny as a Grand Slam champion might not be realized.

After realizing that “it's okay if it doesn't happen,” Keys finally overcame this emotional barrier. This clarity of mind proved to be the key to success, as it truly "happened" on Saturday night. In a thrilling Australian Open final, the 19th-seeded Keys defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, preventing the world No. 1 from winning her third consecutive title at Melbourne Park.

“I feel like from a young age, I always felt like… if I never won a Grand Slam, then I didn’t live up to what people thought I should be,” Keys said in her post-match press conference. “That’s a pretty heavy burden. So, I’ve finally gotten to a point where I’m proud of myself and my career, whether I have a Grand Slam or not.”

How did Keys reach this state of mind? As she stated, it was through “a lot of therapy.” The 29-year-old said, “Really starting to dig into how I felt about myself and being honest with myself was really hard. I really didn’t want to be someone who felt like I was struggling, but I started to really struggle with it. So [the key was] being really honest with myself and really seeking help and talking to people, not just about tennis, but how I was feeling about myself. It was super uncomfortable. I never like being uncomfortable. I really don’t think I’d be sitting here if I hadn’t done that.”

By focusing on personal growth through therapy and simply wanting to “feel better,” it helped Keys cope with the pressure she had placed on herself. She said, “In the past, if I was nervous or something, I usually wouldn’t play that well. So it started to become, when the nerves would come, I’d be like, ‘Oh, no, now I’m going to play terrible.’ It would almost trigger an internal panic. Somehow, it was like an ‘aha’ moment where I started to really believe that I can feel nervous, but I can still play good tennis.”

With her Australian Open victory, Keys’ WTA ranking will rise from No. 14 to No. 7. She insists that therapy will continue for the remainder of her career and after she decides to hang up her racket. “You’re always going to have difficult moments, and you need someone to talk to,” Keys said. “I think it’s so important. It’s something that I will continue to do for the rest of my life.”