Madison Keys' 'uncomfortable' journey from 14-year-old prodigy to Australian Open champion
Updated . First published at
MELBOURNE: Madison Keys credited therapy for helping her overcome the suffocating expectation that has followed her since she turned professional at the tender age of 14.
The American's Australian Open triumph on Saturday night was one of the most thrilling women's finals in recent memory.
It was also one of the most popular victories as the down to earth Keys finally broke through for her first grand slam title aged 29.
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Madison Keys plays a shot in 2009. Getty
She's spent more than half of her life as a professsional tennis player.
She was compared to the great Martina Hingis at 14.
And she played as Venus Williams' teammate at the age of 14.
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Philadelphia Freedoms stars Venus Williams and Madison Keys. Getty
But never able to break through on the biggest stage until now.
"She won her first tour match when she was 14 years old and 48 days," Mark Petchey said on Stan Sport's Grand Slam Daily.
"That's how quickly she made an impact. She was quickly compared to Martina Hingis because she was the last 14-year-old that had won a match at that age.
Martina Hingis of Switzerland grabs her equipment after the umpire stops play for a rain delay. Getty
"She's been hampered by those comparisons all the way through... and that's just been tough for her. It's been very difficult for her to live with. She had a hugely successful career by most people's standards, and yet was still being judged as somewhat not living up to the sort of hype that you had as a 14-year-old.
"So for her to then overcome that hurdle at this stage of her career is absolutely stunning."
Keys was determined not to let stage fright cripple her a second time after she was obliterated by Sloane Stephens in her only previous grand slam final at the 2017 US Open.
She unleashed hell on Aryna Sabalenka with enormous, fearless groundstrokes - giving the stunned world No.1 a taste of her own tiger tattoo medicine.
Throughout the three set rollercoaster, Keys' husband and coach - Bjorn Fratangelo - remained a picture of calm and focus in her corner.
Keys paid tribute to Fratangelo, her family and professional help for giving her the mental fortitude to play with freedom.
She encouraged all people, not just athletes, to seek help if they were able to.
"The stigma around therapy, in general, not just in sports, I think, is slowly starting to go away. I think that everyone should be in therapy, no matter what. I think it helps," Keys said.
"No matter what's going on in your life, you're going to have moments where things are tough and you need someone to talk to. I think it's very important.
Madison Keys, 14, playing for the Philadelphia Freedoms against the Boston Lobsters in 2009. Getty
"It's something I will continue to do for the rest of my life. If more people do it and more people talk about it, then it just kind of becomes the norm. It's almost as if you're going to the doctor.
"No one bats an eye at that. I think it's just kind of overwhelmingly needed for most people."
Keys started seeking therapy as a teenager but didn't fully click with a psychologist until working with her current one.
"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," she said.
"I never really like to be uncomfortable.
"I honestly think that had I not done that, then I wouldn't be sitting here."
