Madison Keys has extended her winning streak to 16 matches after reaching the Indian Wells semi-finals for the first time.
Keys won the Australian Open in January, after beating world number one Aryna Sabalenka to claim the first Grand Slam title of her career.
After taking a month away from the matchcourt to recuperate, Keys has beaten the likes of Anastasia Potapova, Elise Mertens and Donna Vekic.
In her most recent victory, Keys overcame Abu Dhabi champion Belinda Bencic in her most dominant win since the Australian Open.
Madison Keys says what has been really strange about Indian Wells this year
Keys beat the in-form Bencic, 6-1 6-1, to reach the Indian Wells semi-finals for the first time in her career.
Despite beating her Swiss opponent in just over an hour, Keys was asked about the challenging conditions that have presented at Indian Wells this year.
Wind is often a factor at the tournament in the Californian desert, but Keys suggested that other weather conditions have offered different challenges in 2025.
“Yeah, it’s been a little bit of a strange year here,” Keys admitted in her press conference. “Obviously always kind of prepared for the wind, but it’s been hot and then cold and then rain. So it’s definitely been a little bit of everything.
“But to be expected sometimes, so just kind of have to deal with it and roll with whatever the day is giving you.”
The world number five even revealed that she discovered that the conditions were worse on court than in the stands, after Keys spoke to her coach and husband Bjorn Fratangelo.
“Well, it’s kind of funny, because, like, on Stadium 1 even yesterday when I was playing, Bjorn kept saying things, like to do things, and I was, like, Can you not feel that there’s like 45-mile-an-hour winds happening? He’s, like, No, I can’t at all,” said Keys detailing the exchange with Fratangelo.
“So even just the difference from the court to where they are sitting, they can’t feel it. But it’s pretty strong in one direction.
“But I do feel like because they are kind of both such big bowls it will kind of switch back and forth a little bit so it swirls a little bit. But it’s, for the most part in one very strong direction.”
Madison Keys names the most challenging situation she has ever played in
Following her admission about the conditions at Indian Wells this year, Keys was asked about whether she had faced anything more difficult.
Keys responded to this question by suggesting that Indian Wells has presented the most challenges over the years, alongside the Miami Open before it moved location in 2018.
“I mean, there has obviously been some matches here that are incredibly windy,” said Keys. “Miami when it was in Key Biscayne sometimes would be pretty brutal. I don’t know. I can’t think of one like diabolical situation really (smiling).”
It appears with her experience on the WTA Tour, Keys has learnt how to deal with these windy conditions after achieving her best result at Indian Wells in her 12th appearance at the tournament.
The next challenge will be a rematch of the Australian Open final, as Keys plays Sabalenka once again for a place in the Indian Wells final.
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