“It’s definitely something new,” Madison Keys hopes to deal with the pressure of winning the Australian Open at Indian Wells

Madison Keys will be making her return to tennis after the Australian Open, where she claimed her maiden career Grand Slam.

“It’s definitely something new,” Madison Keys hopes to deal with the pressure of winning the Australian Open at Indian Wells

Madison Keys (via X)

Madison Keys is making her return to the court at the Indian Wells Open. It is her first tournament since winning her maiden career Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January. The American now feels the weight of expectations on her and has revealed that she has handled the pressure of it at the WTA 1000 tournament.

Keys made history at the Australian Open after beating four Top 10 players, including Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, en route to winning the title. The 30-year-old sustained a hamstring injury, which saw her skip the entirety of the Middle East swing. Despite not playing, she climbed the WTA rankings from World No.7 to No.5.

She is set to feature at the Indian Wells which starts on March 5. Keys arrived at the tournament early and has already practiced alongside the likes of Elena Rybakina and Belinda Bencic. Though the Indian Wells has not been one of Keys’ best competitions, she now has to perform well as the level of expectations has increased.

Speaking with Serena Williams’ ex-coach Rennae Stubbs, she revealed that winning the Australian Open has given her a new challenge. She added that she has to learn how to deal with pressure and expectations.

I think I have had to be really honest with myself and know that is going to be something I am going to have to work through because it’s a totally normal thing to have happen. But it’s also, nobody really thrives, when you are going out thinking I have to win everything now. That is going to be my new challenge and obviously it’s a really good place to be in, to learn how to deal with that pressure, because it means you have to learn some new things. But it’s definitely something new that I am going to have to figure out how to weather the storm that I am creating.

Madison Keys said via Rennae Stubbs podcast

Keys already has two titles this season and has suffered only one loss. The World No.5 has been unbeatable in 12 matches. However, having not played a competitive match in more than a month, it might affect her game at Indian Wells.

Madison Keys reflects on her new challenge as a Grand Slam champion

Madison Keys’ best result in Indian Wells came in 2022 when she reached the quarter-finals. She then lost to Iga Swiatek in straight sets. Last year, she reached the third round and then lost to Yulia Putintseva. In fact, she has an underwhelming 10-11 record in the tournament. Nonetheless, she’s still a strong favorite to win the title.

Madison Keys
Madison Keys (Image via X)

During the aforementioned conversation, she was asked how she was coping with the pressure and her record at Indian Wells. She revealed that it has been hard to finally find her feet again.

It felt like it took seven to 10 days to finally find my feet again. I think the other thing that is really funny, is that all of a sudden you are dealing with your own expectations dramatically changing. So I think it’s also been a good amount of time to get to the point of realisation, because at first I was like ‘I’m totally cool, I’m just going to think exactly the same way and everything will be fine.

Madison Keys said

Keys will open her Indian Wells account in the second round against either Anastasia Potapova or Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. If she’s able to win the match, she could play Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals.