Madison Keys’ Major Tennis Rivalries, Ethnicity and Love Life

Quick Facts

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Madison Keys is one of the rising stars of American tennis who thus far, is making a good name for herself. Although she has just a few titles to her name, she has set herself apart, making the highest career ranking of No. 7 in 2016, while reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2015, and the finals of the US Open in 2017. She also made it to the final of the US Open and the quarter-final of the Australian Open in 2018. Thus far, she has won 3 WTA titles and 3 ITF in the singles, while in the doubles she has 1 ITF title. Keys has set herself apart as an aggressive baseline, whose strength lies in her immense strokes and power plays.

Where’s Madison Keys From?

Keys was born on the 7th of February, 1995, in Rock Island, Illinois. She was brought up in Quad Cities with her siblings by their parents, who were both legal practitioners. Keys is of biracial ethnicity as she was born to an African-American father, Rick Keys, and an American mother, Christine Keys. That said, Madison does not identify herself as either White or African-American as she doesn’t want to be defined by her race.

Highlights of Her Career and Her Biggest Opponents

Since the inception of her professional career in 2009, Madison Keys has competed against the biggest names in the sport. Although it hasn’t been all rosy for the young tennis star, she has been able to achieve a whole lot within a short time. She has played against the likes of Sloane Stevens, Venus and Selena Williams, and many others as listed below.

Sloane Stevens

Most rivalries in modern sport are built around fierce competitiveness that often leaves both parties not less than complimentary of each other. In the case of Madison Keys rivalry with Sloane Stevens, it comes from a place of friendship and admiration more than anything else. Stevens and Keys have been friends since their early teens, and throughout their professional careers, they have built a bond that transcends the court. Keys was on record as saying Sloane is the only person she watches all her live games to cheer on.

Sloane and Keys have met four times with Keys only managing to come out tops once. They first battled each other professionally at the 2015 Maimi Open First round, a game Sloane won in straight sets. Their next meeting was at the 2017 US Open final, where Sloane won yet again in straight sets. Their next game was the semifinals of the 2018 French Open. Both were battling to make it to their second major final. Madison Keys’ solitary victory over her friend came at the 2019 Volvo Car Open.

Venus Williams

No one had a bigger influence on a young Madison Keys than the Williams sisters. She had watched them as a four-year-old kid and was enthralled by them inspiring her to become a tennis player. So while her rivalry with Sloane Stevens is predicated on friendship, hers with Venus is borne out of reverence and admiration.

She first met Venus as a young 18-year-old rising star at the semifinals of the 2013 Charleston Open, a game Venus won. They met two years later at the quarter-final of the Australian Open, where Keys won in three sets. Since then, they have met three more times with Venus winning at the WTA Elite Trophy and Keys winning at 2016 Canadian Open and the 2019 Cincinnati Open.

Angelique Kerber

One of the most frequent matchups Keys has had to come up against in recent times has been with German Angelique Kerber. Keys has a dismal 2–8 record against Kerber. Her only two victories against the German came at the 2014 Eastbourne International final and the third round of the 2018 Cincinnati Open. Some of her losses to Kerber include the 2015 Charleston Open finals, the semifinals at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and the quarterfinals at the 2018 Australian Open.

Serena Williams

While Madison Keys has had some joy playing Venus, she hasn’t with Serena. All the three times she has faced Serena, she has failed to win any. Keys’ reward for beating Venus at the 2015 Australian Open was a semi-final berth with Serena, which she lost. Serena came out tops at the US Open later that year, and also at the Italian Open.

Who Has Madison Keys Been Dating?

The tennis player has not been in many relationships in the past. She is one of many athletes who are increasingly ensuring that they keep intimate details of their love life private. Her sexuality has been put on the question, not necessarily because she is openly a supporter of the LGBT community, but also because of some pictures that suggest that she was dating fellow tennis player, Laura Robson. The photos and some tweets shared between those two had made people believe that they were dating and that Madison could as well be a bisexual.

Nonetheless, Keys is currently in a relationship with American tennis player Bjorn Fratangelo. The first time the two came out together was in 2017 after their relationship was made public via an Instagram post by Madison. Bjorn, who resides in Florida, is yet to reach the heights of his promising tennis career. His highest ranking so far has been at No 99. Although he is yet to win any major honors, the young American is slowly making his way up the ladder.

Before her relationship with Bjorn, it was also rumored that she had something to do with the bad boy of tennis, Nick Kyrgios. However, there has never been a thing going between them.