World No.17 Madison Keys is hoping a new aggressive approach to the game based on input from the newest member of her team will help her rise back up the rankings.
The 23-year-old progressed to the third round of the Australian Open for the fifth time in her career on Thursday after defeating former junior world No.1 Anastasia Potapova 6-3, 6-4. Keys fired eight aces and 25 winners past her tricky opponent. Recovering from a 1-3 deficit in the second set in what she described afterwards as ‘the perfect test’ for her.
“When you are able to get out of that, you look back in a weird way you’re thankful for that.” Keys reflected about her second set comeback. “I was really happy with how quickly I just bounced back, I got back in the game, and then to get back in the return game when I was down Love-40, those three games right there meant a lot to me.”
This year’s Melbourne major is the first test for Keys and her new coach Jim Madrigal. Madrigal was appointed to her team in December. He is the former coach of Tennys Sandgren, who he guided to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open last year, and was head coach at Belmont University in Tennessee for 18 years.
Although Keys’ new coach has previously mainly worked in men’s tennis, she has been impressed by his ‘new voice’ on the WTA Tour. Something she says other men’s coaches have failed to do.
“He’s definitely appreciated that it’s not the same. It’s not the same game, it’s different. And so that’s been refreshing, because I feel like a lot of the men’s coaches, when they try to coach women, they just think it’s all the same.” Keys explained.
“So not having to do that has been nice. It’s just been nice to have a completely new voice, someone who hasn’t worked on the WTA and is just, has taken a step back and just watched all of it.”
Perhaps the biggest change for Keys concerns the returning of the second serve. Previously, choosing to be cautious when it comes to them, Madrigal had advised her to do the complete opposite by being more aggressive. In her latest match, Keys won 50% (35/70) of her return points.
“For the longest time, I have always been told don’t go for as much and be safer and all that. And he thinks the reverse of that and says, No, go for it, commit to it.” Said Keys.
“It’s actually been working better for me, thinking that way, so that’s been the biggest thing.”
The next test for the Keys-Madrigal partnership in Melbourne comes in the shape of 2018 semi-finalist Elise Mertens. The 12th seed downed Margarita Gasparyan 6-1, 7-5, in her second round match. It will be the second meeting between the two after the 2017 US Open, which Keys won in straight sets.
“She’s had a great year and a half, and I’m going to have to go and watch what she’s been doing the last couple of matches and see if I have a good game plan for her.” Keys commented.
Keys have now reached at least the third round at six consecutive grand slam tournament.
