Madison Keys admits what has surprised her since she returned to tennis after winning the Australian Open

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Madison Keys opened up on her tennis return after winning the Australian Open.

The 30-year-old claimed the biggest title of her career following an epic victory against Aryna Sabalenka in the Melbourne final back in January.

Keys defeated the World number one to win the first Grand Slam title of her career and in the process stop the Belarusian from winning the tournament three years in a row.

The American did not compete again until she was back on home soil at the Indian Wells Masters and she has since admitted something about her comeback.

What surprised Madison Keys since her return to tennis after the Australian Open?

After toiling away for years on the WTA Tour and experiencing some agonising heartbreak, Keys finally achieved her dream of becoming a Grand Slam champion.

She is now up to a career high ranking of number five and she plans to continue with her good form and attain more success moving forward.

Keys was pleased to have a mental break after her success Down Under and missed the Middle Eastern swing that followed the Grand Slam.

But once she returned at Indian Wells, Keys admitted not being completely ready for the pressure and expectation that comes with being a Grand Slam champion. 

Keys spoke to reporters at the Charleston Open, where she began her campaign by beating her compatriot Caroline Dolehide 6-3, 7-6(4).

She said: “Just taking that time at home was really important but getting back on the court for the first time was also something that I don’t think I was 100% prepared for.”

Madison Keys reflects on her Indian Wells defeat to Aryna Sabalenka

During her press conference after her opening win at the Charleston Open, Keys also touched on her defeat to Sabalenka at Indian Wells.

The Belarusian gained some element of revenge when she defeated Keys for the loss of just one game in their semi-final.

Keys came through some taxing matches before facing Sabalenka and admitted she struggled both physically and mentally.

“I don’t know if you have ever lost like that in front of a massive crowd like that. But, no, you’re not having a great time out there,” she added.

“But it was kind of an emotional rollercoaster for me through that week and it was, honestly, already a lot more of an emotional rollercoaster and toll than I thought it was going to be after the Australian Open.

“I think honestly I kind of just ran out of steam,” she added. “When you are playing someone like Aryna, you can’t not play well and it’s kind of one of those things where you just leave it and pretend that it never happened.”