ROTHESAY INTERNATIONAL

July 1, 2023

Madison Keys

Devonshire Park

Press Conference

M. KEYS/D. Kasatkina

6-2, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Madison, congratulations. Your second title here in Eastbourne. Just talk us through how happy you are to lift that trophy today.

MADISON KEYS: Really happy getting the win today. Definitely a little bit unexpected of a week for me, but obviously incredibly happy to get it done in two sets after a crazy tiebreaker. Just really happy.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Congratulations on getting your second Eastbourne title. I think people have thought you have had a brilliant game for grass probably since you won this for the first time. Do you sort of think you've got the game and maybe a bit more know-how to do some really damage at Wimbledon this year?

MADISON KEYS: I definitely think I used my game really well this week on the grass, and I think in the past I have been able to play some pretty good tennis on grass. Obviously third title on grass now, so I feel very comfortable on the surface.

I think if I can continue to try to keep this momentum that I have gained this week, I definitely think that I can do well at Wimbledon.

Q. Looking at it, obviously we know with Grand Slams it all just has to kind of come together, doesn't it, for two weeks? That's a lot harder than it sounds. But I suppose looking at the way you played today and against Coco, as well, perhaps one quarterfinal at Wimbledon looks a bit light for somebody with your ability. Do you feel that as well?

MADISON KEYS: You know, I think it's always, like you said, it's tough. I mean, in order to play a Grand Slam you have to play seven really good matches against people who are also winning their matches.

Over the course of two weeks, you can't wake up and have a bad day, essentially. So I think on paper definitely I wish that I could have gone further at Wimbledon and done better at Wimbledon, but I don't think people always appreciate how difficult it actually is to go deep into a slam, especially getting into a second week. It takes a lot.

I mean, obviously I have done well at other slams but unfortunately haven't been able to do that at Wimbledon. Who knows? Maybe this is the year.

Q. Do you still retain that belief, that you've got some perhaps unfinished business at Wimbledon in particular since that's the one coming up?

MADISON KEYS: I definitely think that if I can play high-level tennis, I can definitely compete with a lot of people and anyone. So I definitely still think that I have that ability.

Q. You've got a Brit in the first round, of course. Somebody you have probably never played before, Sonay Kartal, isn't it?

MADISON KEYS: No, haven't played her. Don't know much about her. But that's what scouting is for (smiling). So I'm definitely going to do some scouting and get ready for my match on Tuesday.

Q. I think there is a stat unnoticed that the late Jana Novotna was the last player to win this and then Wimbledon, as well. Occasionally it happens at Queen's. I think it's happened a couple of times. Is that something that you'd love to double up, I'm sure?

MADISON KEYS: Love to double up, but that's very far off in the future at this point. Going to enjoy today and then worry about Tuesday.

Q. Have you ever had so many let cords going your way?

MADISON KEYS: No. I felt really bad, honestly. The last one that fell over, I truly was like, That's just shit today (smiling).

Q. Do you genuinely feel bad when that happens for your opponent? None went her way.

MADISON KEYS: If one or two happens, you're kind of, like, Oh, it happens. But the amount that happened today, I genuinely felt badly at the end (smiling).

Q. Maddie, congratulations.

MADISON KEYS: Thank you.

Q. American tennis I think is going through a bit of a revival, you could say, on grass. Tiafoe won Stuttgart. Eubanks in the final in Mallorca. What do you think it is about Americans, basically your ability to play on the grass? Seems like you guys are really good on the surface.

MADISON KEYS: I think a lot of us just growing up on hard courts really enjoy playing on fast courts. I think our games just naturally fit onto the surface pretty quickly.

Once you figure out your footing and how to really utilize your strengths on the surface, I think a lot of us have the ability to really use the surface to our advantage. It's obvious great that we have had so many, I mean, even Tommy today in the finals as well. It's really great to see so many Americans doing well these past few weeks.

Q. Is the group chat still going from the United Cup team? You guys still in that chat?

MADISON KEYS: Yes, the group chat is still alive (smiling).

Q. Taking this forward to Wimbledon, one of the things that was remarkable today was that at any point where you were in danger, you set down some really great serves or started to take control of the game. Is that a positive to take to Wimbledon next week?

MADISON KEYS: 100%. I think with my game it's really trying to find the balance of not going for too much, but also my strengths are being a big player and going after things. So being able to try to find that kind of middle-of-the-road ball where I'm not going for too much but I'm also still trying to be the aggressor and go after things.

Today I think I did that really well, especially in tight moments, being able to find that balance. That's really just going to be my goal for Wimbledon as well.

Q. Congratulations. Obviously you took your fall yesterday, and you said you hadn't had your hip looked at. Is everything all right now?

MADISON KEYS: Yeah, I mean, it was fine today (smiling).