madison keys

 

Madison Keys, born on February 17, 1995 in Rock Island, Illinois, is an American professional tennis player renowned for her thunderous serve and powerful baseline game. She turned professional on her 14th birthday, quickly establishing herself as one of the youngest players to win a WTA Tour main draw match 

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. Introduced to tennis after watching Venus Williams on television at a young age, Keys was inspired by the sport from an early age 

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. Raised by parents Rick and Christine, with an athletic family background — her father was a college basketball All‑American — Keys developed her passion into a career that would earn her a place among the elite in women’s tennis 

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Her breakthrough came at the 2015 Australian Open, where she reached the semifinals as a teenager and cracked the WTA top 20 for the first time 

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. In 2016 she made history by becoming the first American woman to break into the top 10 since Serena Williams, entering the WTA top ten at age 21 

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. Keys’ first Grand Slam final arrived in 2017 at the US Open, where she controversially lost to compatriot Sloane Stephens in a thrilling all-American final 

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Over the following years, Keys continued to refine her game, battling injuries and ups and downs but reaching milestones along the way—such as winning the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open in 2019 and claiming her eighth WTA title at Strasbourg in 2024 without dropping a set 

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. By early 2025, her journey reached a dramatic pinnacle: at the age of 29, she lifted her first Grand Slam trophy at the 2025 Australian Open. Seeded just No. 19, Keys stunned the tennis world by defeating world No. 2 Iga Świątek in the semifinals—saving a match point en route—and went on to down two-time defending champion and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 final. She became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2005 to beat both the top two ranked players at the Australian Open in the same tournament 

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. Her victory made her the fourth‑oldest first‑time Grand Slam winner in history, and the second‑oldest to win the Australian Open in the Open Era 

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In the wake of her breakthrough, Keys soared to a career‑high WTA ranking of world No. 5 in February 2025 and held as high as No. 7 in subsequent weeks. As of June 30, 2025, she remained ranked inside the top ten, holding world No. 8 

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. She began the year with a title at the Adelaide International, defeating Jessica Pegula in the final, and compiled a 18–1 match record through early 2025, including dominant wins in Indian Wells and other tournaments 

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. On grass at the Queen’s Club Championships, Keys advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in 2025, showcasing her adaptability beyond her hard‑court strengths 

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Off court, Keys is known for her warm personality and her charitable work. She co-founded the platform Kindness Wins, promoting kindness to youth and others during challenging times. She also advocates for gender equality in tennis and supports organizations that empower young women through FearlesslyGirl 

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. She enjoys baking, interior design, plants, friends and family, shopping and TV, and considers her favorite shot to be her serve and favorite surface hard courts 

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In 2025, Keys’ career is further shaped by her new partnership—with her husband Bjorn Fratangelo serving as her coach since late 2023. Many analysts credit this fresh coaching relationship and tweaks to her service motion and equipment as key factors behind her improved consistency and her Grand Slam breakthrough 

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. Known as “one of the good ones” in tennis circles, Keys balances fierce competitiveness with genuine humility—a combination that has won her fans around the world 

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Today, with ten WTA singles titles to her name—including her landmark Australian Open win—and a place among the most respected American players, Madison Keys remains a defining figure of her generation: a relentless competitor, a powerful athlete, and an inspiring role model both on and off the court.