PARIS—Madison Keys, who won her first-round match at Roland Garros over fellow American Varvara Lepchenko, says she hasn’t got completely used to playing on red clay yet. The 20-year-old reached the final of the Family Circle Cup in Charleston on green clay in early April, but struggled on European clay this season.
“I think green and red clay are different,” Keys said. “Green clay is much faster, and I’ve also played on green clay for a long time; haven't so much red clay. I think it’s just slowly getting more comfortable with it. I think every year I get a little bit more comfortable and I get a little bit better. Doesn’t always show up in results, but definitely it’s a long process.”
The world No. 16, who reached the semifinals at the Australian Open this year, says she is also still learning how to play in Paris, and as a result does not feel a lot of pressure. “It’s definitely something that I'm learning to deal with,” she said. “It’s not the easiest all the time. I’m slowly kind of navigating how to deal with it and just learning how to kind of just focus on the pressure I’m putting on myself and not really worry about anyone else’s outside pressure.”
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