By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Monday, March 10, 2025
Image courtesy: Justin Setterfield/Getty
Coco Gauff credits Madison Keys‘ uplifting spirit for her victory at the Happy Slam.
Before Keys made history by defeating the defending champion Aryna Sabalenka to secure her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, Gauff observed that her fellow American was brimming with positivity.
In a joyous offseason moment, Keys tied the knot with her long-term partner and coach Bjorn Fratangelo during a Charleston wedding she described as “the happiest day of my life.”
Gauff believes this personal joy allowed Keys to find her calm and ultimately achieve a long-awaited milestone, eight years and 25 Grand Slam appearances after her initial major final loss to close friend Sloane Stephens.
“She definitely possesses one of the highest levels on tour. It’s great to see her grab a slam; she truly deserves it,” Gauff remarked about Keys. “Lately, she appears much happier, and that shift has been significant—more than just technical improvements in her game.
“I can sense the positive vibes around her—not that she was ever negative. But her energy feels different; she seems more joyful these days,” Gauff continued. “Even before her Australian triumph, it felt like she carried a lighter spirit in the locker room. Players tend to perform better with a positive mindset, so witnessing her success and happiness is inspiring.”
As the fifth seed, Keys enters her upcoming round of 16 match at Indian Wells riding an impressive 14-match winning streak, set to face either Emma Navarro or Belinda Bencic.
If Keys wins and Gauff defeats Bencic, the two American stars will clash in the BNP Paribas Open quarterfinals, a highly anticipated showdown.
