ROLAND GARROS

June 4, 2025

Madison Keys

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/M. Keys

6-7, 6-4, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Of course not the result you were hoping for today, but reaching the quarterfinals at Roland Garros is a big achievement. How can you look back at your week and a half here?

MADISON KEYS: Yeah, I think a lot to be proud of. I didn't have a flawless clay court season, so to come and have kind of the matches that I did and play the level that I did for as many matches as I did here I think is a huge accomplishment and something that I'm going to take onto the grass.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You often talk about, and we have talked a lot the last few months about this idea of if I play like me and take my swings and stuff like that, and I lose, totally fine. Is that how you were feeling when you walked off the court today, that you had left it out there, or are there regrets that you have?

MADISON KEYS: I don't really have regrets. I don't think I played quite the level that I wish that I could have, but I don't think that I regret not going for things or making poor decisions. I just think that what I wanted to do and kind of the level that I produced just weren't on the same page today.

Q. How much, if at all, did the roof being closed, the cold affect things for you today?

MADISON KEYS: Definitely a different environment to play in. A lot more dead and slow with the roof closed. Obviously it's cold and rainy.

So, yeah, just very different conditions. I would much prefer it to be bouncy and hot, but it's just kind of the reality of weather. I think conditions like today unfortunately I think play a little bit more into Coco and make her even tougher to beat.

Q. Along those lines, you had spoken the other day about the idea of she's this player that particularly on clay makes you hit a million winners to win one point. How big a factor was that today out there in the way you played?

MADISON KEYS: I think the court being a little bit slower coupled with the fact that she covers the court so well, I think it just put a little bit of pressure on me to go a little bit more for my shots and maybe press a little bit too much too soon.

I think also there were a lot of points where I felt like playing someone else I would have won the point, but having to reset two and three times, it makes it harder, where even if you win six of those but if you're losing three or four, they could be important points.

Q. Sort of a funny match of surges by one person and surges by the other. What does that do for your mind as you're going through that? I imagine when you have momentum it must be like, okay, I've got this now, this isn't going to end, but then the other person sort of gains momentum. Where was your head as that was sort of a roller coaster that you were riding and she was riding, as well?

MADISON KEYS: I think those matches are always just a little bit difficult to play just because it felt like neither one of us was playing a great level at the same time. Like you said, it just would kind of swing back and forth.

But in the same token, no matter what, it kind of felt like I wasn't totally out of it, like I could win three or four games in a row it, and it could swing back my way. In some ways it's difficult, but in other ways, it kind of helps you stay in a set even if you're down a break or two.

Q. Can you just talk about what you could envision for Coco's future? Obviously she's No. 2 now, but just talk about her future and where you think she'll be going.

MADISON KEYS: I would imagine that she'll continue in the trajectory that she's already on, having already won a slam and being 2 in the world. She's also quite young, so I would imagine that she continues to do as well as she has been.

Q. Well, late, I guess, in the second set, was there something she did differently that affected things from, let's say, 4-All in the second set?

MADISON KEYS: I think that she cleaned up her side of the court a little bit. I don't think she was giving me as many free points. I think that, coupled with I was spraying a little bit more, I felt like I kind of really lost the momentum at the end, and that's kind of where she just started rolling with it.

Q. What does your transition to grass look like? How do you ease into what is obviously such a different surface but that I imagine you feel like gives you a lot of great advantages at the same time?

MADISON KEYS: The tennis season doesn't really allow you to ease into anything, so I'm going to London tomorrow, and I imagine I'll be on grass on Friday. That's kind of the reality of the sport.

I have typically felt pretty comfortable on grass, so the first couple of days I imagine I'll be a little bit more sore just because the ball is so much lower, and it feels like you have to work a little bit harder just to move on the grass.

Yeah, no easing into...

Q. Do you think you'll continue with this thing of playing the week before slams?

MADISON KEYS: We'll see. We'll see how things go (smiling).

Q. You mentioned being comfortable on grass. What is it that you like the most about that surface? How do you think it works with your game?

MADISON KEYS: I think it obviously is a surface that rewards people who have bigger serves and hit harder. I think from the start I always just -- it just kind of naturally I was getting free points, and I felt good on it.

I think I have always felt fairly comfortable moving on it. I think some people, having to take bigger steps on the grass, you actually have to really step, I think sometimes that's the hardest thing for people to get used to.

I just kind of always felt like it was a pretty easy transition, so I think those things just coupled together, it was just I hit on it for the first time and felt like I was always going to enjoy the surface.

Q. Earlier this year you were a good sport and spoke about your love of coffee. If I recall, you ranked Melbourne No. 1 in terms of the Grand Slams. In terms of the three other Grand Slam cities, how would you rank coffee-wise?

MADISON KEYS: I'd put New York second, London/Wimbledon third, and Paris last. Sorry, guys (smiling).

Q. What does Paris have to do to upgrade its game?

MADISON KEYS: I think that's up to them. I think they know what they're missing, and it's just on them to figure it out (smiling).