THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 7, 2023

Madison Keys

Press Conference

M. KEYS/V. Golubic

7-5, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Your initial thoughts on today's match, Madison.

MADISON KEYS: Really happy with how things went today. Haven't had the best results against her, so it was obviously a tough match. Very happy to be in the third round.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Congratulations on your 350th WTA win. Did you know that?

MADISON KEYS: No.

Q. Oh, there you go.

MADISON KEYS: Haven't been keeping tally.

Q. Milestone?

MADISON KEYS: It's a great milestone.

Q. You have been playing professional tennis for more than half of your life. Does it feel like that?

MADISON KEYS: Yes, it does.

Q. When does it?

MADISON KEYS: Every day.

Q. Can you elaborate?

MADISON KEYS: I mean, I have been playing tennis since I was four, so quite literally been playing it for almost my whole life. I have been on the tour since I was 14.

I mean, I feel like I have played through a few different eras now, the tail end of some people, middle of other people, and then the start of others.

Yeah, I just feel like I have played for a long time and been around and seen a lot of different faces.

Q. What is it about your game that is so conducive to grass? By far you have a better winning percentage on that surface than any other.

MADISON KEYS: I think I just, from the start, it just felt really natural. I feel like on clay it kind of took a little while of figuring out what small adjustments to make in my game to make my game better on the surface versus on grass.

It just has always felt really easy and natural and it just immediately clicked.

Q. Last week, when you went to Eastbourne, a lot of people withdrew, also the men, week before Wimbledon. What was your mindset going there? Is it, oh, if I lose early, not too bad, or do you really want to win the title and two days later play in Wimbledon?

MADISON KEYS: I mean, I think if I'm in a draw, I'm trying to win the tournament. Went to Eastbourne with every intention of wanting to do as well as possible.

I know it's always a tricky week and people playing the weeks before and things like that. I hadn't played anything leading up to that tournament, so I had, you know, put all of my intentions of trying to do as well at that tournament, as well as possible.

Q. If you're playing well and hitting the ball well, basically nobody can beat you. Did the title in Eastbourne put any more pressure on you as far as expectations go coming to Wimbledon?

MADISON KEYS: I think going into Eastbourne I almost basically had no expectations. I was really just trying to get some good matches.

Obviously the initial cut and draw was incredibly difficult. I was just really trying to get some good matches and feel good on the grass, especially. I feel like those first couple matches can always be a little bit tricky. That was really my only focus.

That obviously served me very well. I'm actively trying to just have that same mindset and not really get ahead of myself.

Q. Last year you actually had to pull out of Eastbourne I think after the first round and then you couldn't play Wimbledon either. How did it feel having to come back this year and playing Eastbourne and actually even winning that and come into Wimbledon and playing two great matches so far?

MADISON KEYS: It's obviously great being able to play at Wimbledon again. Having to pull out last year was a difficult decision. I don't think that's something that any of us really want to do, especially when we're here and thinking that we're going to be ready to go.

Very happy that I was able to, you know, get to play Eastbourne and Wimbledon. So far have been winning my matches.

Q. So you play Marta Kostyuk next. She's very outspoken, and rightfully so, about the situation in her home country. Of course at the French Open there was this dispute, handshake, no handshake, which did not affect you in any way. American players, you're so far away, do you even consider the situation? How do you look at that situation between the Russian, Belarusian players, and the Ukrainian players, if at all?

MADISON KEYS: I mean, obviously it's something that is in all of the headlines daily all over the world. It's obviously a travesty what's going on in Ukraine.

I think that it's been incredibly difficult for all of the players to try and figure out and how to support and how to do the right things. It's definitely something, even being an American that's not involved, I think it's hard to say we're not involved when it's all on the same tour.

But, I mean, I think at this point I try to be supportive however I can. At the same time, I don't really know what to do in my position (smiling).

Q. Despite your great record on grass, this is the only Grand Slam you haven't gotten to at least the semis. What is it going to take to do that?

MADISON KEYS: Winning one more match, I guess (smiling).

Honestly, I'm just really not even trying to think that far ahead. I have a match most likely tomorrow, and that's all I'm going to worry about for right now.

Q. You got engaged a couple months ago. Congratulations. How is it planning a wedding and having to play and doing all the tournaments and stuff?

MADISON KEYS: I have a wedding planner, and it's not for a very long time, so I haven't been doing much, to be totally honest (smiling).

Q. What goes through your mind when you hear the terminology used "the big three" applying to the three women who right at this moment are at the top of the game: Swiatek, Sabalenka, and Rybakina?

MADISON KEYS: I think it's a deserved title. I think they are all phenomenal tennis players. They are obviously at the top of the game right now, so I think it's a great term to describe the three of them.

Q. What does it do, do you think, for the rest of the tour, motivation and learning, et cetera?

MADISON KEYS: I'm not sure I would say that there is any extra motivation. I think they are obviously playing some really great tennis, and they have shown that throughout this entire year, along with last year. So I think you kind of knew going on the court playing any of them that you were going to have to play your best tennis.

I don't think whether or not the media is calling them "the big three" or not changes that.

Q. Speaking about your fiance, Dominic Thiem told me that the loss against Bjorn at the Roland Garros finals as a junior is the big thorn in his side as far as his career is concerned. It really is. What is your biggest regret as far as the careers? Finals against Sloane in 2017? Which match would you like to play all over again?

MADISON KEYS: I think there is many, many matches that I'd like to play over again.

Obviously playing the finals at the US Open, if I could go back and replay that match, that would probably be the first one. I will have to tell Bjorn that Dominic said that, though (smiling).