"I’m not about to be a video on Twitter" - Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens discuss why they would never indulge in 'icy' post-match handshakes
Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens are not big fans of being 'icy' towards competitors on the WTA tour and believe they are probably guilty of being "too nice" when greeting their opponents and the net after matches. In a fun chat, the two good friends explained why they have no interest in indulging in cold post-match handshakes.
Among the big stars in American tennis, Keys and Stephens are the more experienced ones, having also competed against each other in the 2017 US Open singles final, which Stephens won. The duo, who share a great camaraderie, recently took part in a fun Q&A on the sidelines of the ATP Dallas Open, where they faced off in an exhibition match.
When asked during the chat which among the two of them is more likely to give an 'icy' handshake to their opponent, Stephens was quick to clarify that she is always respectful to fellow players.
"I always eye-lock. I lose and I'm like, 'Great match, good luck,'" Sloane Stephens said with a smile.
As Keys went on to take the blame on herself for being the icy one, Stephens defended her good friend, saying Keys also always gives her opponents respectful handshakes and is often "too nice."
"Like, you're too nice. Yeah, we're both nice," Stephens added.
When further asked if either player often resists the temptation to give icy handshakes, Keys hilariously suggested that she has no intention of creating controversy by doing so. Stephens echoed Keys' thoughts.
"I'm not about to be a video on Twitter," Madison Keys said on the same.
"You know, like, everyone's zooming in and everyone's like, 'Oh, what happened?'...Not me, not happening," she added.
"We're only here for the handshake? No, thanks," Stephens expressed.
You can watch the video of their interaction here:
“I’m not about to be a video on Twitter.” 😂
Enjoy the “I’m just here for the handshake” director’s cut you didn’t know you needed.
#DALOpen https://t.co/iLS3Woxig1
Keys beat Stephens 7-6(2), 6-3 in their Women's Tennis Classic exhibition match at the Dallas Open on Sunday, after they were last-minute participants in a match that was originally supposed to feature Venus Williams and Danielle Collins. Williams and Collins both withdrew from the contest due to injury and scheduling issues, respectively.
Madison Keys reveals hilarious interaction with Frances Tiafoe during United Cup 2023
During the chat, both Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens also spoke about their ATP colleagues, and Keys went on to reveal a funny incident involving fellow American Frances Tiafoe that took place during last month's United Cup. When Keys informed Tiafoe that she would be turning 28 in February, he told her that it seemed as if she had been on the tour itself for much longer than that.
Since then, Tiafoe has been referring to Keys with the nickname 'OG', which Keys feels is Tiafoe's way of teasing her for being 'old.'
"I feel like you've been around for 40 years," Tiafoe cheekily told Keys, as she revealed during the interview.
"Now he (Tiafoe) calls me OG and I'm like, 'I know what you mean by that, you just mean I'm old. Like, that's your nice way of calling me old,'" Madison Keys joked.
Keys and Tiafoe were both part of the American team that won the inaugural United Cup, which was held shortly before the Australian Open in January.