US OPEN

August 29, 2022

Madison Keys

Press Conference

M. KEYS/D. Yastremska

7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Can you just go through the match, your thoughts on the match itself and first-round win at the Open.

MADISON KEYS: Obviously very happy to get the win today. Tough opponent to have to start off with. Just really happy that I was able to serve my way out of some of those set points and get that tiebreaker, then I felt like after that I got the momentum, things started feeling a little bit easier.

So yeah, overall very happy with my first-round win.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Trying to get a sense of court speed this year.

MADISON KEYS: Fast. Very fast (smiling).

Q. Is that why you're smiling?

MADISON KEYS: Yes. Very fast. I like it.

Q. In terms of just how playing a difficult opponent, given what you did in Cincinnati, how is it feeling at this Open?

MADISON KEYS: It feels pretty good. I feel like in Cincinnati I played a lot of similar players, where they're all taking big cuts, hitting just as hard, if not harder, than I am. I feel like I've been very prepared for these types of matches after having, like, six in a row.

In a lot of ways I feel very prepared for it. I know what to expect. Camila is obviously a phenomenal tennis player. She's had a lot of success. I think it's going to be similar to today where she can hit an absolutely amazing shot, or if I can manage to get one ball back, then maybe I can get back in the point or get an error out of her. I think it will be very similar.

To have just all the matches under my belt from the past however many days it's been feels pretty good.

Q. We know the big story tonight about Serena Williams. Did that help you to go under the radar to do what you need to do in this tournament? Next year probably be a lot more attention. Is it easier this year that she's the big story and you can concentrate on your job?

MADISON KEYS: I think of the US Opens that I've played in, Serena has been in the draw most of the time so it's kind of the same for me.

I know all eyes are going to be on tonight's match, but I'm pretty focused on my own match. So it didn't really feel any easier for me.

Q. Does the energy that has surrounded this event because of Serena, does it bleed into the locker room as much? Does it feel different day one at the US Open because of the circumstances of this evening?

MADISON KEYS: I don't think it's really gone into the locker room or anything quite like that. It feels a bit similar to when she was trying to win all four in that one year. I mean, we're all obviously aware of it. I'd be lying if I said I had no idea what was going on tonight.

I think we're all so used to her, I mean, she's always been trying to do something here, you know? She's won it. I mean, she's Serena. She's always the talk of the tournament.

I don't think it's really as far as players. I will say there's so many people here today, I mean, everywhere. I think a lot of that has to do obviously with the match of the day.

I think it's more I just feel like you can feel the buzz on the grounds.

Q. Coming into the US Open on the run that you had, obviously you arrived and played this tournament with a lot of confidence before when you've had similar runs, but those were times when you were younger. So at this point, do you feel any more settled, expectations don't feel as big, weighing you down? Does it feel different this year for you?

MADISON KEYS: I think I'm just very conscious of trying to keep the same mentality that's worked for me throughout this year and be very honest with my team when I might start having that voice in the back of my head, to very quickly turn it off and start focusing on the things that I need to focus on.

I think in the past I haven't been probably vocal enough with them, I've tried to just ignore it. I think it shows in my tennis when I get out there and I'm feeling it.

So I'm just trying to be very mature and conscious of what's going on in my brain (smiling).