Madison Keys recently played Venus Williams in an exhibition match in Charlotte, North Carolina.
2025 Australian Open champion Keys defeated Williams in straight sets, 7-6, 6-0.
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Their match will be best remembered for the peculiar incident that occurred during the first set.
The Electronic Line Calling System showed Keys‘ return at 3-1, 40-40 landing in, even though the word ‘Out’ was showing.
In a bid to end the confusion, Williams agreed to replay the point, which Keys subsequently won.
During the latest episode of ‘The Player’s Box Podcast‘, Keys shared her thoughts on the incident.
Madison Keys ‘didn’t understand’ the umpire amid Electronic Line Calling confusion
Keys was confused by the incident, which stopped play during the first set of her exhibition match against Williams.
“We were playing the match in the first set, and I hit a return. It was close, I couldn’t tell,” she said.
“They put the review on the board, and it comes up that the ball is on the line, but they called it out.
“I was like, wait, what? I am confused! So I went to the chair, and I was like, it says that it’s in, but it also says that it’s out, and the chair was like, we have to go with the ruling.
“I was like the ruling is confused, so I don’t know what we are talking about.
“She said we had to go with the review. But I was like, I don’t know, I didn’t understand her, but she said the light went off and I saw space, and we have to go with the call.”
Keys may have been confused by the call, but still enjoyed herself in Charlotte.
“It was super fun. I got to play Venus [Williams], which is always amazing,” she said.
“We have played a handful of times in our careers, so it was super fun to be able to play in a less stressful environment.
Madison Keys and Venus Williams’ head-to-head record
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2023 Canadian Open – R64 | Madison Keys | Venus Williams | 6-2, 7-5 |
| 2019 Cincinnati Open – QF | Madison Keys | Venus Williams | 6-2, 6-3 |
| 2016 Canadian Open – R16 | Madison Keys | Venus Williams | 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 |
| 2015 WTA Elite Trophy – RR | Venus Williams | Madison Keys | 3-6, 7-6, 6-1 |
| 2015 Australian Open – QF | Madison Keys | Venus Williams | 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 |
| 2013 Charleston Open – QF | Venus Williams | Madison Keys | 6-4, 6-4 |
“We both got to be a bit more playful. She definitely knows how to do an exho and played up to the crowd. It was a great time.
“It was also really fun seeing the boys. It’s been a minute.
“So to catch up with Taylor [Fritz] and Frances [Tiafoe] was really nice. So I just had a little 48 hours with some of my pals.”
Moving on from the off-season exhibitions, Keys will now turn her attention to the Australian Open and her first-ever Grand Slam title defence.
Can Madison Keys retain the Australian Open?
Shocking the tennis world earlier this year, Keys beat Aryna Sabalenka to win the Australian Open.
Returning as the defending champion in 2026, Keys will have her work cut out for her if she wants to hold on to the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.
Two-time champion and 2025 runner-up Sabalenka will be a real threat, as will the world’s number two and three, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff.
Who will win the 2026 Australian Open?
WTA Finals champion Elena Rybakina is another player to look out for, having finished her 2025 season in impressive form.
That being said, if Keys can rediscover the form that she showed in Melbourne this year, then there is no reason why she can’t be a real factor in the second week of the 2026 Australian Open.
Only time will tell who will emerge victorious Down Under, but you won’t want to miss any of the action when the 2026 Australian Open begins on Sunday, January 18.
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