US OPEN

August 22, 2025

Madison Keys

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: If you could, would you give us your thoughts on the Open.

MADISON KEYS: This is always my favorite time of the year. I have had some amazing moments here, and I have had some pretty tragic ones, as well. But still always my favorite.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. What makes it your favorite?

MADISON KEYS: I mean, being an American, obviously your home slam makes it a lot easier to be your favorite. But I just love the energy. I love playing on Ashe. It's very loud, and I know some people don't love that. But I just always think that it's definitely kind of, like, the loudest, rowdiest crowd that you can play in front of. I think it's really fun.

Q. Aside from the atmosphere, from the actual tennis perspective, what is it like being at the bottom of that cavernous, gigantic stadium completely different from anywhere else I would imagine you have ever played tennis?

MADISON KEYS: It's definitely very, very large. I think the first time I walked out, I'd obviously have never played on a stage that big. And I think now, all these years later, I have gotten very comfortable out there. And to me, when they put the roof on, it feels cozier somehow, as large as it is.

But yeah, it's a stadium like no other. I think walking out there, especially I have had some really big matches, like Labor Day weekend playing Serena, there was not an empty seat. It's like no other place, and you don't ever get to play in front of that many people.

Q. Playing doubles with Tiafoe, can you talk about your relationship with him, what's that like? If you have any funny or interesting stories to share about your experience with him.

MADISON KEYS: Love Foe. We have known each other for many, many years. I mean, I always love watching him play tennis. It's always super fun. We play obviously very differently.

But he's one of the best guys. He always has amazing energy. He's one of the happiest people you'll ever be around. We lived in the same apartment complex for a few years, and I basically had to drive him around everywhere, had to leave him a few times because he was late. Got a lot of FaceTimes on 'How do I start the washer' and stuff. So we're quite close (smiling).

Q. You spoke earlier this year a little bit about the importance of mental health and mental toughness going into your play. Have you had any specific strategies when it comes to mentally preparing to go out on the court for a Grand Slam?

MADISON KEYS: I think in my experience it's really about letting yourself kind of prepare for it. I think a lot of us sometimes you kind of push it off because you know some of those feelings are going to start creeping up and they are going to be kind of scary and sometimes feel kind of hard to deal with.

But I think going into it, knowing that there is going to be some nerves and some jitters, and just walking out there, one, having already thought about it, and two, knowing they're going to happen and knowing that it's fine if they happen, and you have the tools that you need to kind of navigate through them.

Q. In tennis there are so many aspects to the pro game, traveling the world, the competition, self-improvement. What makes you happiest about being a tennis pro and having this life and this career?

MADISON KEYS: I think the biggest thing that I have come to really appreciate about my job is all of the little kids that we kind of get to see and inspire. You know, just the little moments of walking through the airport and having someone run up to you and want an autograph and something like that. It really just kind of puts everything into perspective.

Sometimes the travel is really hard and you just have, those are kind of the moments where you get to play tennis for your job. So I think it's sometimes we should touch grass and appreciate that (smiling).

Q. I know you have been busy, but have you seen any clips or trailers from the upcoming season of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City? If you haven't, any other reality shows you have been binge watching lately?

MADISON KEYS: I've watched no television. I'm going to save it all up for the Asia swing. That's always a good time to really binge some shows. But I'm very excited that Salt Lake Housewives are coming back.

Q. What thoughts do you have when you think about the fact that the last 11 years here, 10 different women have won the US Open singles title?

MADISON KEYS: You know, I'm not overly surprised. I feel like the depth of the women's game is very much there, and in my head, before we start any tournament, there's 25 people that I think could have a great run or win the tournament. I'm not totally surprised by that.

I also think that it's really kind of keeping our sport super fun. And you have lots of new stars, old stars. I think it's a really exciting time for women's tennis.

Q. First question is how does it feel coming back to your home slam for the first time since lifting the Australian Open trophy? You have been here a million times before, had great results here, but does it feel any different walking into Ashe and knowing that you can and have done it?

MADISON KEYS: I think when you win your first slam, the pressure obviously of winning the first one kind of goes away. So it's like you finally did it and you got to check the mark next to the goal list.

And now I think it gives you a little bit more freedom when you're playing, because now you're looking for the next one and you're kind of hunting for the next one. But you already know that you can do it and that you have done it. I think you also have just kind of that experience behind you.

Q. Any other books, movies, TV shows you have read this summer?

MADISON KEYS: What have I watched? I just binged Wednesday. I watched it in like a day. As you heard, I'm a huge Salt Lake Housewives fan. Also Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. See, you guys get me. You get me. Basically all trash reality TV, I'm set.

Q. You mentioned the crowd and noise and how you love it. Does it ever create another sort of challenge for you in making it harder to keep your emotions in check and things like that in terms of tennis has certain etiquette for both the players and the crowd and to not get swept up in sort of the boxing match atmosphere that can happen out there?

MADISON KEYS: I personally don't think I ever really struggle with it. You know if you're playing on Ashe it's going to be loud, especially a night match.

I think the only thing is sometimes you can't hear your box as they're trying to tell you things. You have to learn sign language pretty quickly, and sometimes you fail. That's probably the hardest thing that I have to deal with.

And I will say you don't always get to hear the sound of the ball anymore, so I think that adds a little bit of a unique challenge. But I also think once you're out there you get pretty used it.

Q. If you could change anything about tennis tour or any of the Grand Slams, what would you pick?

MADISON KEYS: Ban five sets, because I don't want to sit behind another seven-hour match ever again in my career.