How to watch Manchester United vs Leicester: Free UK coverage among streaming & TV options for FA Cup clash
Madison Keys is thrilled to have proved that she was right in one thing as the 29-year-old says people used to tell her that she would "never win" on the biggest stage if she remained such a good person.
ADVERTISEMENT
After crumbling under pressure and easily losing 0-6 3-6 loss to Sloane Stephens in the 2017 US Open final, the American put up her best-ever run during this past Australian Open and became a Grand Slam champion just before her 30th birthday.
En route to winning it all at Melbourne Park, Keys consistently delivered as her path to the title was as tough as you could get.
But she had answers for several big names, beating Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, Elina Svitolina and Danielle Collins.
And with this run, the world No. 7 proved why she was once regarded as one of the biggest and most promising players in the game and tipped to win a Major.
Following her triumph, the American admitted that it wasn't easy to deal with expectations and that she was extremely relieved to have gotten that burden off her back.
ADVERTISEMENT
Keys on Andy Roddick's podcast: I didn't think I had to be a bad person to win
"Everyone always told me I would never be as good as I should be because I was too nice, and that always really pissed me off," the 29-year-old said on the Served with Andy Roddick.
"I didn't think that you had to be an a--hole to win.
"I just really wanted to drive that point home and continue to stand on my morals and how I was raised while being at the top of the game."
In her post-final presser at the Australian Open, Keys got very candid about her therapy sessions, admitting that she has been practicing that for years and crediting her therapist for helping her overcome certain issues and be where she is now.
