Madison Keys suggests she hasn't felt much difference in how others look at her - at least not yet - but acknowledges that there is probably a bit more focus on her following her maiden Grand Slam title.
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After beating a couple of giants and giving losses to the likes of Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka en route to winning the Australian Open title, the American continued her fine form in her first post-Australian Open tournament and has reached the Indian Wells quarterfinal.
In late February, Keys was signed up to play at the WTA 250 tournament in Austin but an odd WTA rule prevented that. That meant that her return to action would come on a big stage at the WTA 1000 tournament in Indian Wells.
"I don't know if they feel different. It's obviously a tournament in the States and being an American. Obviously I think there is probably a few more eyes on me, but I feel like at the same time, given winning the first slam of the year, eyes probably would have been on me anyways no matter where I was," the 30-year-old explained when asked if some things felt differently.
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Keys: It was important for me to get first tournament post-Australia out of the way
When answering the same question, the American also admitted that she wanted to be physically and mentally prepared for her return to action.
"I just felt like it was more important to be really ready to be back on the court instead of trying to rush things, just to get the first tournament post-Australia out of the way," the new world No.5 noted.
While Keys - who also won Adelaide - managed to get past her opening three matches in Indian Wells and improve to 15 consecutive wins, it hasn't been pretty for her in the desert so far since she is coming off back-to-back three-set wins over Elise Mertens and Donna Vekic.
Today, the American home favorite plays against Belinda Bencic in the quarterfinal, who beat Coco Gauff on Wednesday.
