After her career-defining victory at the Australian Open this year, Madison Keys found herself grappling with an unexpected emotional upheaval. Achieving what she had tirelessly pursued for years left her in what she describes as an “existential crisis”, offering a candid look into the emotional toll taken on athletes at the pinnacle of their careers.
From a tender age of 11, Keys was identified as a promising talent. Coaches foresaw a future where she would be a Grand Slam champion and a powerful force in American tennis. However, her journey to her first Major title was anything but smooth. Despite making it to the final of the US Open at the age of 22 in 2017, the elusive Grand Slam victory seemed to be slipping further away.
The turning point came at the Australian Open this year. Just three weeks shy of her 30th birthday, Keys accomplished a stunning victory, defeating formidable opponents like Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, and Aryna Sabalenka. However, the euphoria of this long-awaited achievement soon gave way to an unexpected emotional crash.
Speaking to ESPN in Indian Wells, Keys, now 30, shared, “It was really emotionally draining. The emotional roller coaster afterwards was a little bit surprising. I was basically comatose just trying to recover.”
In the throes of this emotional turbulence, Keys sought counsel from her predecessors. She was reassured to hear from many that such post-victory existential crises were quite normal. “It’s actually funny how many former players I had reach out and be like, ‘The existential crisis is totally normal,'” noted Keys.
Further, she also spoke about her first practice session post her Australian Open win. In line with what she had been told, the session was far from easy. Describing it as “tragic”, she revealed the challenges that followed her triumphant moment.
Currently ranked as the world No. 7, Keys is now gearing up to return to action in Indian Wells. She will be facing Anastasia Potapova in what will be her first match since her Australian Open victory. This glimpse into her emotional journey post her career-defining win not only humanizes the athlete but also sheds light on the often overlooked emotional trials that accompany such tremendous professional achievements.
