US OPEN

August 31, 2022

Madison Keys

Press Conference

M. KEYS/C. Giorgi

6-4, 5-7, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Take us through the match tiebreak.

MADISON KEYS: By that point I felt definitely more comfortable in the match. I felt like the momentum had kind of swung back to my side once we got to the match tiebreak. To get off to an early lead, have a little bit of breathing room, felt pretty good.

Then obviously just really happy with getting the win today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. In terms of getting through that match tiebreak, obviously you've had a similar experience at other slams this year, how much did that affect your ability to stay calm in this one?

MADISON KEYS: I think it kind of was in the back of my mind that, Okay, I've been here before. We can get through this. I was really just focusing on those first couple of points, just trying to get some sort of breathing room. Against someone like her, you know she can come up with some amazing shots at any moment.

I was just really trying to stick to just thinking about the next point and just trying to get one more ball in the court. Very happy with how things went (smiling).

Q. Obviously for a couple years the tennis schedule got changed, shortened, things of that nature. Do you think it could have been harder for some of the younger players to sort of save energy for late in the year, that they don't really know some of the things you veteran players might know about how to peak at certain times, stay fresh?

MADISON KEYS: I think the younger players are fine. They have many years ahead of them. They'll be okay. They'll figure it out if they haven't already. They'll be fine. They'll figure it out, if they haven't.

Obviously it's a learning curve. With everything that's gone on, maybe it's taking a little bit longer, but they'll be fine (smiling).

Q. You're having a phenomenal year serving. Do you have just more confidence these days that in those clutch moments the serve will get you out of trouble?

MADISON KEYS: It's definitely nice to have that in my back pocket and be able to rely on it. I think that on days where it feels good, obviously the confidence is there. Being able to rely on it is very nice.

But I think I've really focused on, funny enough, my return game and trying to have a lot more confidence in that for days where the serve, I'm not getting quite as many free points and things like that, knowing that's not going to be the deciding factor of the match.

Q. If you could change one thing in tennis, in the game, what would that be?

MADISON KEYS: One thing? I don't know, honestly. I think we've changed a lot of things in tennis now, so we've kind of just been rolling with all of the new changes.

I don't know. I really like tennis. Obviously as far as TV and fans, it's hard that we don't have start times, people don't know exactly when you're going on.

I think the one thing I would change is honestly if everyone would stop asking me what time I might be on following two men's matches at a Grand Slam (laughter).

Q. Coco said after the win earlier that she's looking forward to it being an intense match. You're a big hitter, she knows it's going to be fast balls. What do you remember about the last time y'all played? Are you looking forward to playing against her?

MADISON KEYS: Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I found out about it today, so I haven't had a ton of time to think too much about it.

We had I think a three-set match earlier this year. She's obviously a phenomenal tennis player, has had a lot of success.

I think it's going to be another match where we're both big hitters and we're both going to be trying to be the aggressor. I look forward to it.

Q. If there's one thing you feel you have to work on for your next match, what do you think it is? And will you be watching Serena tonight?

MADISON KEYS: I think that honestly today I feel like I was probably a little bit too passive at times. I think I let Camila dictate a bit too much. Trying to find that balance against her is really difficult. You don't want to go toe-to-toe and overhit.

I think similar in the next match where I have to try to get ahead in the point against someone like Coco because you don't want her to get the first strike.

And, yes, I will be watching Serena tonight.

Q. On Coco, obviously that match in Adelaide was a great match. You've obviously played Sloane a lot in your career. How do their games kind of compare when they face you? In a lot of ways they have a similar kind of base. Could you contrast what it feels like playing each.

MADISON KEYS: Like, their base is very similar, and then they obviously both have different strengths. I think Sloane's ability to just make a million balls is second to none at times. Then her ability to step in and rip a forehand makes her incredibly dangerous.

Then I think on Coco's side, she's obviously incredibly fast, not that Sloane isn't. I think Coco sometimes I feel like maybe gets more winners earlier in points, whereas Sloane kind of it's like all of a sudden out of nowhere, 15 balls later.

So I think, like you said, they're very similar with, like, very small differences. I think the biggest difference is I think Coco sometimes goes for something bigger earlier in the point, whereas I think Sloane kind of reads the match a little bit different, and will know if she's going to be more aggressive or if she's just going to use that foot speed that I wish I had.