Madison Keys will face a first in her career just next month, as she seeks to defend her first-ever Grand Slam title in Melbourne.
Having won the Australian Open in a surprising but stunning fashion, her run to a maiden major triumph was remarkable.
However, she now faces the unique and prestigious honour of trying to ensure nobody wrangles that crown from her head upon her return.
Madison Keys has spoken about the pressures that come with that, but also the privilege she feels in holding the title.
How Madison Keys feels about being the reigning Australian Open champion
Speaking at the Charlotte Invitational, alongside Frances Tiafoe, Venus Williams and Taylor Fritz, the 30-year-old was asked about her Australian Open success earlier in the year.
Asked about her thoughts now 11 months on, and how she is feeling about returning, Keys admitted: “I think obviously there’s going to be pressure being the defending champion. It’d be crazy if I said there wouldn’t be.
Who will win the 2026 Australian Open?
“But I think it’s really just kind of how you think about it. It’s obviously a massive accomplishment and it’s going to be a huge honour to go into a slam for the first time being a defending champion.”
She insisted she was excited at the prospect of heading back to Australia in general, adding: “I am also very much looking forward to just the whole Aussie swing. It’s always one of my favourite times of the year, so really, I’m looking forward to going back.
“Obviously, I didn’t have the perfect ending to the season that I wanted, but it’s kind of the reality of the sport sometimes. To have as much success as I did all year. I still finished one of my best seasons yet.
“So, I think just kind of using the next couple weeks to work on myself, try to add some things to my game and just hopefully have a really great start to the year.”
In that same interview, Keys and Tiafoe agreed on the change they’d like to see tennis make in the coming years.
Who are the favourites to win the 2026 Australian Open?
Whilst Keys will return to Melbourne as the defending champion, it feels like her lacklustre end to the 2025 campaign has seen her chances of retaining her crown decrease.
After all, Aryna Sabalenka, whom she beat in the final earlier this year, will almost definitely be the overwhelming favourite.
A two-time champion who has just won another US Open title, and undeniably the best hard-court player on the planet right now, it would be unwise to bet against her.
However, Elena Rybakina’s stunning end to the season, including a win over Sabalenka at the WTA Finals, has thrown her into contention.
Whoever is to win this event will have their work cut out though, with stars like Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova and Mirra Andreeva also impossible to deny.
Keys’ title defence will have to be flawless if she is to be successful.
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