Madison Keys shocked the world earlier this year by winning her first Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park.
The American WTA star took her games to new heights in Australia as she battled past four seeded players to reach the final.
Keys then beat Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling three-set final, downing the two-time defending champion and world number one, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
After finally winning a Grand Slam title in her 46th tournament, Keys has spent several weeks recovering, missing tournaments in the Middle East.
World number seven and ten, Elena Rybakina and Paula Badosa, returned at the Abu Dhabi Open last week, while the rest of the top-ten returned for this week’s Qatar Open.
A notable absentee in Abu Dhabi and Qatar, Keys is also set to skip next week’s Dubai WTA 1000 event, a decision that has gone down well with one tennis legend.
Rennae Stubbs thinks Madison Keys’ decision to skip Middle Eastern WTA events is a ‘fantastic move’
Speaking on The Rennae Stubbs Podcast, former doubles number one Rennae Stubbs gave her thoughts on Keys’ scheduling decisions.
“I think that it is really great that Madi [Keys] has put the racket down for a little bit and decided not to go to the Middle East,” she said.
“I believe Madi Keys has made a fantastic move.”
Stubbs then revealed the contents of a conversation she had with Keys’ coach and husband, Bjorn Fratangelo, following her win in Melbourne.
“I did speak to her husband after she won the Australian Open, and I am not taking credit for this, but I did say one of the things that Sam Stosur told me after she won the US Open was that she wishes she hadn’t gone and played in Asia right after that,” she said.
Because you have to be ready and prepared to put the work in.
“Just because you won the Australian Open does not guarantee you will win your next match.
“So you have to be ready to put the work in and be mentally prepared to be out there and ready to be at the tournament.”
Having skipped the Middle Eastern swing, Keys is expected to return to tennis at the Indian Wells WTA 1000 tournament, which begins on March 3.
When will Madison Keys win her next WTA title?
Having won the opening Grand Slam of the season, Keys will no doubt be eager to add anther title to her collection before too long.
But how long has it taken previous Australian Open champions to bring home their next WTA trophy?
| Year | Champion | Next WTA title | Days between titles |
| 2024 | Aryna Sabalenka | 2024 Cincinnati Open | 205 days |
| 2023 | Aryna Sabalenka | 2023 Madrid Open | 98 days |
| 2022 | Ashleigh Barty | – | – |
| 2021 | Naomi Osaka | – | – |
| 2020 | Sofia Kenin | 2020 Lyon Open | 36 days |
| 2019 | Naomi Osaka | 2019 Japan Open | 239 days |
| 2018 | Caroline Wozniacki | 2018 Eastbourne | 154 days |
| 2017 | Serena Williams | 2020 Auckland Open | 1,079 days |
| 2016 | Angelique Kerber | 2016 Stuttgart Open | 85 days |
| 2015 | Serena Williams | 2015 Miami Open | 63 days |
Sofia Kenin took just 36 days to win again, as she lifted the Lyon Open title with a three-set win over Anna-Lena Friedsam.
WTA legend Serena Williams endured the longest drought, as she waited over 1,000 days to win her 73rd and final title in Auckland five years ago.
Williams beat fellow American Jessica Pegula in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, at the 2020 ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.
Both Ashleigh Barty and Naomi Osaka won their final/most recent WTA titles at the Australian Open in 2022 and 2021.
If Keys were to lift the title in Indian Wells next month, she would’ve waited just 50 days to do so, giving her the second quickest turnaround in the last ten years.
The 2025 Indian Wells tournament kicks off in California on March 3.
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