‘She just ripped’ – The moment Laura Robson knew Madison Keys could be Grand Slam champion
Madison Keys can finally call herself a Grand Slam champion. The American star secured glory at the Australian Open last weekend with a nail-biting 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 win over world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka. Keys has won her first Grand Slam title, eight years after he last appearance in a finalGetty It came almost eight years after her last Grand Slam final appearance – a heavy defeat in the 2017 US Open final against Sloane Stephens – and 15 years after she burst onto the scene aged 14. Keys’ run in Melbourne also included a semifinal win against Iga Swiatek, ranked No.2 in the world, meaning she became the first woman in 20 years to beat the top two-ranked players en-route to the Australian Open title. Speaking openly after securing her maiden slam, the 29-year-old discussed how therapy helped her unburden herself, and thanked her team for believing in her ‘when I didn’t believe in myself’. And as Keys celebrated her Australian Open win, close friend Laura Robson was in tears courtside. The pair have known each other since they were children and have formed a bond that goes far deeper than tennis. Robson has been by the American’s side through all of the highs, and all of the lows, since they climbed the junior tennis ranks all those years ago. And there are few that know Keys better. Speaking to talkSPORT following the Australian Open, Robson discussed how Keys’ first slam finally came to be, and what got her friend over the line. “It was her mentality, the fact that she finally learnt how to accept that her career was good for what it was, even without a Grand Slam title,” Robson said. “That wasn’t the be all and end all, and when she made that switch in her head, she was able to play freely when it mattered most. Robson and Keys have been close friends since childhood, and both burst on to the tennis scene aged 14Getty Robson believes Keys stepped up at a crucial moment to win the Australian OpenAFP “Even last summer, she was still starting to struggle when it got down to the business end of a tournament, and you could see the nerves and a little bit of panic on her face at times. “And there was just none of that at the Australian Open. That was the biggest change, especially to watch from the sidelines.” Robson went on pinpoint the moment that Keys ‘stepped up’ at the tournament, en-route to winning the title. “It got to 6-6 in the third set against Iga Swiatek in the semis and you saw her step up and play better, which in her career has always been the hardest thing for her,” Robson continued. “I’m just thinking back to certain points of the match where it could have easily gone either way, and actually she just ripped – served an ace or threw in a forehand winner. “I’m just so, so proud of the work that she’s done to be able to make that change in her life. What a difference it’s made.” Keys was able to win her first slam after a change in mentality, according to close friend RobsonGetty Tim Henman, who won 15 career ATP Tour titles of his own, also discussed Keys’ success, describing her efforts in Australia as ‘one of the most popular Grand Slam wins’ in recent memory. “I thought it was very powerful the way she spoke after she had won the title, about how she had been dealing with the mental side of things,” Henman told talkSPORT. “It was almost beyond sports psychology. This was about therapy for the way she felt about herself off the court, her career and dealing with the ups and downs. “I think she had obviously made huge strides in that area and we often hear about the best male and female sports stars talking about the mental side of things. “It’s just an incredible story… To see the stars align, she’d been talked about as a future champion from the age of 14 and there was an enormous amount of pressure – which is self-inflicted – that goes with that. “To see her put it all together, I think was one of the most popular Grand Slam wins for a long time.” Following her victory at the first slam of 2025, all eyes will be on Keys as the year rolls on. And while we will have to wait and see how she fares at the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open later this summer, Robson believes the sky is the limit for the American star. Robson believes Keys can back up her maiden slam with more wins in 2025Getty “It’s all a bonus at this point and she always has been a consistently great player,” she said. “it’s not as if she’s dropped out of the top 100 or anything in the past. she’s always been in the mix and it has always been a case of ‘this is a player who could be easily top 10, easily top five, but just hasn’t found the consistency.’ “Clearly, she’s found that in her game and now she’s number seven in the world. So it’s just a bonus to be going into these tournaments and feeling like she’s in the conversation to win them. “To have that belief wil
Madison Keys can finally call herself a Grand Slam champion.
The American star secured glory at the Australian Open last weekend with a nail-biting 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 win over world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka.
It came almost eight years after her last Grand Slam final appearance – a heavy defeat in the 2017 US Open final against Sloane Stephens – and 15 years after she burst onto the scene aged 14.
Keys’ run in Melbourne also included a semifinal win against Iga Swiatek, ranked No.2 in the world, meaning she became the first woman in 20 years to beat the top two-ranked players en-route to the Australian Open title.
Speaking openly after securing her maiden slam, the 29-year-old discussed how therapy helped her unburden herself, and thanked her team for believing in her ‘when I didn’t believe in myself’.
And as Keys celebrated her Australian Open win, close friend Laura Robson was in tears courtside.
The pair have known each other since they were children and have formed a bond that goes far deeper than tennis.
Robson has been by the American’s side through all of the highs, and all of the lows, since they climbed the junior tennis ranks all those years ago.
And there are few that know Keys better.
Speaking to talkSPORT following the Australian Open, Robson discussed how Keys’ first slam finally came to be, and what got her friend over the line.
“It was her mentality, the fact that she finally learnt how to accept that her career was good for what it was, even without a Grand Slam title,” Robson said.
“That wasn’t the be all and end all, and when she made that switch in her head, she was able to play freely when it mattered most.
“Even last summer, she was still starting to struggle when it got down to the business end of a tournament, and you could see the nerves and a little bit of panic on her face at times.
“And there was just none of that at the Australian Open. That was the biggest change, especially to watch from the sidelines.”
Robson went on pinpoint the moment that Keys ‘stepped up’ at the tournament, en-route to winning the title.
“It got to 6-6 in the third set against Iga Swiatek in the semis and you saw her step up and play better, which in her career has always been the hardest thing for her,” Robson continued.
“I’m just thinking back to certain points of the match where it could have easily gone either way, and actually she just ripped – served an ace or threw in a forehand winner.
“I’m just so, so proud of the work that she’s done to be able to make that change in her life. What a difference it’s made.”
Tim Henman, who won 15 career ATP Tour titles of his own, also discussed Keys’ success, describing her efforts in Australia as ‘one of the most popular Grand Slam wins’ in recent memory.
“I thought it was very powerful the way she spoke after she had won the title, about how she had been dealing with the mental side of things,” Henman told talkSPORT.
“It was almost beyond sports psychology. This was about therapy for the way she felt about herself off the court, her career and dealing with the ups and downs.
“I think she had obviously made huge strides in that area and we often hear about the best male and female sports stars talking about the mental side of things.
“It’s just an incredible story… To see the stars align, she’d been talked about as a future champion from the age of 14 and there was an enormous amount of pressure – which is self-inflicted – that goes with that.
“To see her put it all together, I think was one of the most popular Grand Slam wins for a long time.”
Following her victory at the first slam of 2025, all eyes will be on Keys as the year rolls on.
And while we will have to wait and see how she fares at the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open later this summer, Robson believes the sky is the limit for the American star.
“It’s all a bonus at this point and she always has been a consistently great player,” she said.
“it’s not as if she’s dropped out of the top 100 or anything in the past. she’s always been in the mix and it has always been a case of ‘this is a player who could be easily top 10, easily top five, but just hasn’t found the consistency.’
“Clearly, she’s found that in her game and now she’s number seven in the world. So it’s just a bonus to be going into these tournaments and feeling like she’s in the conversation to win them.
“To have that belief will make a huge, huge difference. I think the sky is the limit for Maddie.”
Laura Robson and Tim Henman spoke to talkSPORT as Sky Sports celebrated the launch of their 2025 tennis coverage.
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