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"For me, 2023 my biggest goal is really to build on everything that I did really well last year," Madison Keys explained on her philosophy with the coming season. The Inaugural United Cup is a newly formed tournament by Tennis Australia, giving players the chance to warm up for the first major slam of the new year, The Australian Open.
Keys has started off with a positive attitude and results as she and Taylor Fritz in Sydney helped the U.S. win over the Czech 2-0. The 'Down Under' country was always special for Madison as last year's warm up event, the Adelaide International she fought hard getting past Elina Svitolina, teen Coco Gauff and winning the final against Alison Riske.
It was the major slam in Melbourne this season that she went deep to the semifinals with former player Ashleigh Barty. The winning card was in Barty's favor but Keys has acquired skills to help her push for consistency and confidence.
Most top players are playing the United Cup which includes 18 nations combining the ATP and WTA tours for one round robin extravaganza. Madison is having fun with this first mixed team event. 2022 might have been a slight bummer losing in opening rounds and then withdrawing from Wimbledon with an injured abdominal muscle, but she's healed and has a new mindset now and for the season to come.
The Adelaide champ has experienced many loss opportunities on court and says the best remedy is "to quickly reset and to break back as quickly as possible and try to get back to even footing. You never really want to feel you're behind in a set." Many have said that sometimes thinking about how their matches didn't go well interferes with having a restful sleep and to feel refreshed for the next match.
Keys doesn't have that issue as she laughs at the thought for herself saying, "I don't think i've ever dreamed of tennis...I mean I have enough of tennis in the daytime when my eyes are open. I don't think I want to start thinking about tennis in my sleep as well." Madison Keys has felt bad times on court far too often and says that "when you get broken, your next thought is "Every single point I just have to get into this return game and see if I can break back." No matter how much she's losing she's gained the ongoing philosophy of just being determined to be her own driving force and return into the game more assertive and dominant to create solid winners.