From being hailed as a tennis prodigy at a tender age of 14 to facing career-stunting injuries, Madison Keys’ journey to clinching her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open has been nothing less than extraordinary. Her awe-inspiring victory over Aryna Sabalenka, a two-time defending champion, in the Melbourne final not only secured her first major title but also marked a significant milestone in her career. The American tennis marvel has once again caught the world’s attention and has earned the admiration of tennis legend Chris Evert.
Keys’ incredible performance at the Australian Open saw her defeating the World No.2, Iga Swiatek, in the semi-final and Sabalenka, the World No.1, in the final. This propelled her to a career-high ranking of World No.7, a position she has held before. However, the post-tournament period saw Keys not only matching her career-best ranking of No.7 but also setting herself up for another milestone. Despite taking a break from the court since her Australian Open victory, she has ascended to World No.6 and is projected to move up to No.5 once the updated WTA rankings are released.
Keys’ momentous achievement did not go unnoticed. Chris Evert, an 18-time Grand Slam champion, heaped praise on her via social media, extending her congratulations and encouragement to continue her winning streak.
The reshuffling of rankings came at the expense of World No.7, Elena Rybakina, who had a disappointing run during the Middle East swing and failed to defend her Abu Dhabi title. Whereas, Keys, having no points to defend owing to a delayed start to her season last year due to a shoulder injury, secured the highest position of her career.
Although Keys hasn’t set foot on a WTA court since her Melbourne victory, she continues her ascent in the rankings. Anticipation builds as she prepares to return to action and uphold her position amongst the world’s elite.
Following her Australian Open triumph, Keys opted out of the Singapore Open and the Middle East swing to allow for recovery after a taxing start to the year. However, her fans will not have to wait much longer. Keys is expected to make her return at Indian Wells, beginning on March 5, 2025, followed by the Miami Open, scheduled from March 16 to March 30.
Interestingly, Keys had initially planned to participate in the ATX Texas Open in late February but was barred due to WTA regulations. These rules allow only one top-10 player to compete in tournaments offering 250 ranking points. As fellow American Jessica Pegula had already committed to the event, Keys had to withdraw.
As Keys gears up for Indian Wells, her focus will be on World No.4, Jasmine Paolini, who is currently ahead of her in the rankings. Paolini’s recent ankle injury at the Dubai Tennis Championships raises questions about her fitness for the upcoming North American hard-court season.
Armed with a Grand Slam title and her career-high ranking, Madison Keys is poised to return to the court. The question that remains is whether she can maintain her Australian Open momentum in the upcoming season. With her return eagerly anticipated, it’s clear that Madison Keys is a force to be reckoned with in the world of tennis.
