Madison Keys reached what may end up being the peak of her career at the beginning of the 2025 season.
In January earlier this year, Keys won her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open after recording a quite remarkable campaign.
The American, 29 at the time, set the longest gap between two major final appearances in the Open Era, with her last trip to a championship match coming at the US Open in 2017.
Keys triumphed in the final over world number one Aryna Sabalenka, besting the Belarusian in three sets to hold the trophy aloft at Melbourne Park.
The incredible feat came shortly after the US star emerged victorious at the Adelaide International.
While Keys enjoyed a very successful Australian swing last year, her hot run of form has now presented a reason to feel concerned heading into 2026.
Madison Keys’ big worry heading into the 2026 WTA season
Keys did not quite build on her heroics Down Under in the events that followed, with the champion failing to add a title to her name for the remainder of her 2025 campaign.
Though she did make the semifinals in Indian Wells, Keys suffered a number of early exits, including a third-round loss at Wimbledon and a first-round defeat at the US Open.
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Following injury struggles towards the latter end of the year, Keys featured in the WTA Finals, but was forced to withdraw from the competition after two losses, due to another setback in her fitness.
The dips in form and results do not bode well with the challenge she now has on her hands at the start of 2026.
Keys will have to defend a large number of points that she claimed last year in Auckland, Adelaide and Melbourne.
- 2025 ASB Classic: Quarterfinals – 54 WTA points gained
- 2025 Adelaide International: Champion – 500 WTA points gained
- 2025 Australian Open: Champion – 2000 WTA points gained
Not only will Keys have to rediscover her form, but she will have to contend with even more competition this year.
The WTA Tour is as deep in quality as it has ever been, and young stars like Victoria Mboko and Alexandra Eala will be looking to go far at the Australian Open after their breakthrough seasons.
All the big hitters remain in her way as well, including Sabalenka, who will want to reclaim the Australian Open title after being denied a three-peat by Keys.
It won’t be plain sailing for Keys at all in January, and a dip in her ranking is more than likely.
Madison Keys’ incredible 2025 Australian Open campaign
Keys’ run at the 2025 Australian Open was special, as she became just the fourth woman in the Open Era to beat four top-ten seeds en route to a major title.
The first such seed came in the form of compatriot Danielle Collins, whom she overcame in straight sets.
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In the fourth round, Keys defeated former Wimbledon champion and sixth seed Elena Rybakina, emerging victorious in the third-set decider to advance to the quarterfinals at the event for the fourth time in her career.
She beat Elina Svitolina in the last eight to set up a semifinal clash with world number two Iga Swiatek, against whom she saved a match point before coming back and winning.
Keys and Sabalenka split sets in the final, but the eventual champion clinched the third 7-5 to seal the victory.
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