Australian Open 2025: 25 favorites to watch out for | No. 23, Women's Singles
Madison Keys knows what it takes to go deep at Grand Slams, including at the Australian Open. The American has made the quarterfinals and better at the season’s opening Slam on three occasions.
As recently as 2022, Keys came within one match of equalling her best Grand Slam performance (reaching the final) but was stopped by a certain Ashleigh Barty. Make no mistake though, the American’s run was stellar despite her 1-6, 3-6 semifinal drubbing against the eventual champion.
Keys had scored big wins over the likes of former champion Sofia Kenin as well as top-10 players Paula Badosa and Barbora Krejcikova. The only set she dropped prior to the semifinal was against Wang Qiang in the third round.
That sort of dominance in the early rounds should not surprise anyone. Keys has an explosive game that is tailor-made for quick hardcourts. When timing the ball right, she can blow just about any opponent off the court with her power. The serve too helps her win a fair few easy points.
What’s the missing element then, some might ask. The answer is consistency. Keys has the tendency to go off-kilter every now and then and struggles especially against players who send a lot of balls back.
Nonetheless, the Australian Open remains her most successful Slam when it comes to winning percentage. Her 73% record includes 27 wins and 10 losses. To add to that, she comes into the 2025 season in a good space.
Madison Keys in a good space ahead of the Australian Open
Madison Keys had a rough couple of years around the turn of the decade, but has steadied the ship over the course of the last three seasons.
The American put together a decent 24-12 win-loss in 2024, a year that also saw her lift her eighth career title at Strasbourg. She ended the year just outside the top-20, at No. 21, but will secure a seeding at the season’s first Slam.
Keys could not participate at last year’s Australian Open due to a shoulder injury and will be eager to make a return Down Under, where she has had such good results in the past.
If the American can get some early wins during the Australian Open warm-up tournaments and use those matches to fine-tune her game, she could well be a big threat to all the big names in the draw.