Quote of the Day: Madison Keys says “lots of therapy” led to Australian Open breakthrough

Tipped for Grand Slam success since her days as a junior, Madison Keys has said the weight of expectations has often felt like a heavy burden—especially when her window of opportunity seemed to be closing on her.

The American reached her first Grand Slam final at the US Open in 2017, and broke into tears after losing the semifinals there in 2023 when it dawned on her that it could have been her last shot at returning to a Grand Slam final.

Read More: Madison Keys wins Australian Open in Aryna Sabalenka upset

At 29 years old, Keys arrived at the Australian Open no longer a rising challenger and not among the oddsmakers favorites, but on Saturday she walked away the champion after defeating Aryna Sabalenka in three sets. The key to her victory was a process that started long before she entered Rod Laver Arena, telling press in Melbourne that she needed “lots of therapy” to let go of expectations and negative emotions and unlock her best tennis.

“It was kind of like this light-bulb moment where I started really buying into (the idea that) I can be nervous and I can still play good tennis,” she said in post-match press conference. “Like, those things can live together.”

Keys revealed that it wasn’t actually sports psychology or mental coaches that helped her get her mind right—it was all about talk therapy, which she says provided benefits on and off the court.

Q. (Was) there a moment or a person you spoke to where the penny dropped and you felt like you feel now, that it wasn't all about whether you won a Grand Slam?

MADISON KEYS: Lots of therapy (smiling). I really kind of bought into it. I think in the past I had always kind of tried to go the sports therapy route where it was more about routine and controlling things you can control and all of that.

I felt like I was always good enough at that, but to really start kind of digging in on how I felt about myself and really being honest with myself about it… It was really hard because I didn't really want to be the person that felt like I was really struggling, but I was starting to really struggle with it.

So just being really honest and actually getting help and actually talking to someone, and not just about tennis but about how I felt about myself. Again, very uncomfortable. I never really like to be uncomfortable (smiling).

I honestly think that had I not done that, then I wouldn't be sitting here.

Keys says she’s determined to beat any lingering stigma by talking openly about mental health and ways to improve it. She also praised the WTA Tour for having services available for players as well as qualified personnel they can talk to on-site at tournaments.

“I think the more that we talk about actually using it as a tool, I think people will feel more comfortable with it… I think it's very important,” said the No. 19 seed.

“It's something I will continue to do for the rest of my life. I think if more people do it and more people talk about it, then it just kind of becomes the norm… I think it's just kind of overwhelmingly needed, I think, for most people.”

I'm just really proud of myself. I didn't always believe that I could get back to this point. But to be able to do it and win, it means the world to me.

Armed with a new, healthier mindset—as well as a new serve and a new Yonex racquet—Keys has put together a red-hot 14-1 record in 2025. After her run to the quarterfinals in Auckland, Keys has been undefeated as she claimed her ninth WTA title in Adelaide with a victory over Jessica Pegula in the final.

Read More: Madison Keys is the first woman in 20 years to beat Top 2 en route to Australian Open title

In Melbourne, she took down both world No. 2 Iga Swiatek and world No. 1 Sabalenka in back-to-back matches to claim her first Grand Slam title—a run that also included victories over 2022 AO finalist Danielle Collins and No. 6 seed Elena Rybakina, a former Wimbledon champion.

“I'm mostly just really proud of myself to get back to this position and be able to play the way that I played and finish on such a strong note. I'm just really proud of myself,” Keys said.

“I didn't always believe that I could get back to this point. But to be able to do it and win, it means the world to me.”