Madison Keys explains why she was so mad at herself after thinking about what Taylor Fritz said recently

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Madison Keys says fellow American player Taylor Fritz was on her mind during her Italian Open match.

On the back of a run to the Madrid Open semi-finals the World Number 16 is determined to build on that momentum in Rome.

She was tested in her opening match but came through in a rain-affected 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 win over Camila Osorio to set up a contest with Beatriz Haddad Maia in the next round.

But after the Colombian levelled the match after losing the first set without winning a game, Keys’ mind wondered during her battle on court 12 to something previously said by Fritz.

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The three-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist previously suggested he would rather not win the first set of a match 6-0 should it jinx him and he goes on to lose.

This became a reality in October 2023, when he was beaten by former junior number one Shintaro Mochizuki 0-6 6-4 7-6(2) in Japan.

Thoughts of squandering a match despite winning the first set so comfortably began to go through Keys’ mind after she stormed through set one on Thursday.

“Oh my gosh I hated myself today because I thought of it too,” she said with a smile on Tennis Channel.

“I was so mad at myself. I literally had Taylor in my head talking about it and I’m like ‘why am I thinking about this right now?’”

Unlike Fritz, Keys was able to reset in the deciding set and come out on top and continue her tournament in Rome.

Keys discusses what she likes about Italian Open conditions

During her Tennis Channel interview Keys discussed why she enjoys playing at the Italian Open.

The big-hitting American’s best result in Rome came back in 2016 when she reached the final and faced none other than the legendary Serena Williams.

After a tight first set, it was the 23-time Grand Slam champion that claimed a 7-6, 6-3 win in what was their third and final meeting.

After navigating the challenges of playing at altitude in Madrid, Keys is back competing in more favourable conditions which allows her to play more freely.

“In Rome especially when it’s because it’s typically pretty warm, pretty bouncy, courts play fairly fast I’ve just always felt way more comfortable here, it just felt easier,” she added.

“I’ve always come to Rome just feels like my tennis again and I feel like I can swing and the balls are going to drop in so uh I’ve always really liked Rome.”