HSBC CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 13, 2025

Madison Keys

Queens Club

Press Conference

M. KEYS/D. Shnaider

2-6, 6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on reaching the semifinal. Can you describe your thoughts on the match?

MADISON KEYS: Pretty happy with today. I think I started a little bit slow, and Diana was playing well. I feel like on grass, sets can get away from me pretty quickly. Happy that I was able to right the ship and finish on a good note.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Just in general, curious about what it's been like transitioning from clay to grass. Obviously it's normally not a 500 event and at a high level so early in the grass season. What's that been like for you?

MADISON KEYS: It was a very quick transition. Played on whatever day, Wednesday, traveled Thursday, was hitting on grass on Friday. It's probably the quickest that I have switched surfaces in a really long time, but really happy to be in Queen's.

When it came on the schedule, it was a place that I always really wanted to play. So just kind of made sense. The fact that it's a pretty high-level 500 right away is definitely a bit of a challenge, but the grass season on the women's side is always so tough. Every tournament, the cuts are so high, just because there is not a lot of options.

I knew it was going to happen one way or the other, so I figured, might as well just get to it.

Q. How have you found this event, the surroundings and everything?

MADISON KEYS: I have already told Laura I think it's the best 500 that I have played.

Q. She said that, that you said that you were going to vote for it.

MADISON KEYS: I mean, she's been, like, It's the best 500.

I was, like, Yes, got it.

She's, every day, Do the survey.

Got it (smiling).

No, it's great. I have always heard from all the guys that they love this tournament, it's the best. Funny, walking into the players lounge and you see all the years they won Best 500. I mean, it's absolutely been voted that way for a reason. It's a fantastic tournament.

Very happy that the women are here.

Q. Is it kind of how some Americans think of Britain, as this feels very quintessentially British, this kind of place? Is that fair? I mean, this is not representative of the country, I should say that.

MADISON KEYS: It definitely has a very specific feel about it. It's very cool just kind of walking around the club and seeing everything. It's just very, like you said, it's kind of what I think a lot of Americans would think of as British club.

I mean, it's phenomenal, it's so nice, the grass is great, and it's a good kind of switch-up from where we have been. It's fun for me to finally come to new places after all these years on tour. Happy to be here.

Q. You usually play at Eastbourne where you have two titles. How are you finding the difference between Eastbourne and Queen's?

MADISON KEYS: It's very different. I played Eastbourne many times, and I always really loved it. It was very quiet, and you kind of walked around everywhere, dodging seagulls, all of that. But phenomenal courts, and it was just always such a wonderful tournament the week before Wimbledon.

This is very different, being in London. It's a lot busier. But again, amazing courts, and really, we're all just trying to get as many matches as we can on the grass.

So being able to always have really great tournaments before Wimbledon is something that we're very thankful for.

Q. Talk about being in London, I saw you went to the Beyonce concert. How did you enjoy that? What's the difference between going to a Beyonce concert in London compared to the U.S.?

MADISON KEYS: Sorry, I missed the beginning.

Q. I saw you went to Beyonce concert.

MADISON KEYS: Yes.

Q. How was that experience being in London, experiencing that, compared to the U.S.?

MADISON KEYS: That was amazing. I have actually never seen Beyonce. So I was on the train from Paris to here, and I was texting Laura, and she was, like, Oh, you should come to Beyonce tonight.

So I immediately, on the train, was buying tickets. We got here, we dropped our stuff, and we basically went straight to get on the Tube and get out there.

It was absolutely amazing. It was so fun. I feel like concerts here are always so much more fun. Everyone puts so much more effort in, like the outfits were phenomenal. We got a little bit lost. I was laughing, because I was, like, Follow the cowboy boots and the hats. I've never seen them in London. We're all going to the same place (smiling).

Q. Is it important to you to have more of these equal tournaments, where obviously it's been such a historic event for the men, to now have a women's version?

MADISON KEYS: I think it's always great, especially when the tournaments are as nice as they are, we love to be wherever the men are.

I love having women-only events. I like when we don't have to share with the boys. So I'm glad that we're here but we have our own week.

Q. When you do transition from clay to grass, what do those first hits look like? What's the toughest ball for you trying to get your game calibrated for this surface, and the movement?

MADISON KEYS: The first hit is usually a bit chaotic. Especially here, I find the grass is playing a little bit quicker than some of the other events I have played before.

So the first hit is just trying to get your feet, figure out the new footing, and really just know that you're not going to have long rallies. Things are going to be a lot quicker. Just be okay with that.

But I always feel like I transition pretty quickly. Just have to get used to the ball coming back over the net a lot faster than on the clay.

Q. I wondered how you found the coffee here, the transition in that respect from Paris.

MADISON KEYS: So far it's been pretty good. I mean, we have our own barista in the players lounge, which has been really nice. I have walked to a few different places.

Paris, I religiously went to one place and one place only. Here, I have been trying to branch out a little bit more.

Q. On a more serious topic, you were saying before how Eastbourne and here, to an extent, what's so nice is you can wander around, it's accessible. Obviously now the tour is having to balance security concerns. It always has, but that's front-of-mind. I wonder how you feel the sport manages those two things, making it is still accessible but also keeping you safe.

MADISON KEYS: I think that the tour does a very good job at managing that. Like, I know here that there is always someone, if you're going out into crowds, there is always someone that's around. If you ever have any issues, they are very quick to help us out. I personally have not had any issues. I mean, ever, yes, but not recently.

Yeah, like I said, I also feel pretty comfortable walking around. Most people are respectful. So I, again, haven't had many issues the past couple of years.

And any issues I have ever had, I have always been able to go to the WTA and they have been dealt with quickly.

Q. Since Coco won the French Open, I don't know if you have seen but there has been a lot of backlash to Sabalenka and her comments about Coco and just how she felt she played. I know this is a difficult subject to talk about, but when you win or when you lose, is there kind of a level of sportsmanship that you expect from an opponent, or do you just not care really?

MADISON KEYS: To be honest, I don't think I really care. Especially if I have won, doesn't really matter what they say or think (smiling).

I mean, it's tough. It's emotional, and I think sometimes emotions get the best of people. Things just kind of come out and you don't necessarily mean them fully.

Then there is other times where, you know, you feel very disappointed in yourself because you didn't play to the level that you expect yourself to. I think sometimes those are kind of hard moments to navigate, and especially if there is a microphone in front of you. I think sometimes we say things that we wish we could take back.

Again, I don't think Coco cares (smiling).

Q. Have you ever said anything you regretted? Not on that topic but just in general in press.

MADISON KEYS: I don't think so. Now I'm going to be, at 3:00 a.m., I'm going to be, Have I said anything that I regret?

I will tell you if it wakes me up in the middle of the night and I think of something.

Q. You could say something now.

MADISON KEYS: No, come on. I have done enough media training for that. (Laughter.)