Melbourne, Australia – the first person that Madison Keys sent a message to after Win the Australian Open For her first Grand Slam The title on Saturday was her mother.

“To,” said a smiling Keys, “Of course you must text first.”

One of the others The 29-year-old American Realed to her therapist quickly. Keys attributes her conversations over the past 1 1/2 years that they have helped her in life, in general – to understand herself, discover what really matters – but also on a tennis court, whether it is about accepting that the nerves comes during a match or deciding would be ok with never winning a big trophy.

Keys said during an interview with The Associated Press on Saturday that she and her therapist “talked a lot” during this trip abroad, including after a short victory over the qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the second round last week.

“I called her and said that I was just doing some things. And we could talk,” Keys said. “And then we have just continued to text since.”

They speak every week or every two weeks during the season, whenever possible.

“There is also reality: Sometimes I think” Hi, I have to talk in the middle of the tournament, “Keys explained.” Sometimes it is even just being able to go back and forth (with) someone who can just give some support. “

Keys said she first tried to talk to a sports psychologist when she was around 18 or 19 and then tried to work with others.

“Never really found someone I really had contact with and clicked with,” she said. “And then I finally turned and went with my current therapist.”

During her press conference after triumph 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 No. 1 Aryna Sabalenkamentioned Keys the ways in which therapy helped her go beyond worry that might stop her from playing her best earlier. It included the idea that if she never won a large trophy, she would not live up to the expectations of others.

For her, Keys said, included the process of “just being really honest and actually getting help and actually talking to someone – and not just about tennis, but about how I felt for myself. Again, very uncomfortable. I never like to be uncomfortable . I honestly think that if I hadn’t done it, I would not have sat here. “

She noted that the WTA Dam Tennistour has practitioners available on site at tournaments, but also suggested that this kind of things could be helpful to many people – not just professional athletes.

“Stimmen about therapy, in general, not just in sports, I think, slowly starts to disappear. I think everyone should go into therapy, no matter what. I think it helps, says Keys.” No matter what happens in your life, Will you have moments where it’s tough and you need someone to talk to. I think it’s very important. “

She continued: “It’s something I will continue with the rest of my life. If more people do it and more people talk about it, then it will be like the norm. It’s almost as if you are going to the doctor. No one beats an eye on it. I think it’s just an overwhelming need for most people. ”

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Howard Fendrich has been AP’s tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich. More AP-Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

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Originally published: January 25, 2025 at. 8:03 Mst