Serena Williams has been the standard-bearer for American tennis for the last 10 years, with the once-fertile nation producing precious few champions – across both genders – to carry the torch on from the 33-year-old.
While Serena cannot go on forever, her legacy should continue with the next generation of players who have looked up to her and picked up a racquet amid her stunning run of 21 grand slam titles since 1999.
Madison Keys is ‘the girl most likely to’, in terms of being the next elite female player from the United States.
The 20-year-old has enjoyed something of a breakthrough year in the grand slams, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open and quarter-finals at Wimbledon but now has her heart set on making an impact at Flushing Meadows – the scene of Serena’s first major victory – over the next fortnight having never made it past the second round.
What can you learn from the games of some of the great players on tour such as Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova?
A Maria is just one of those players who you can never count out until the match is completely over. She’s one of the toughest competitors there is.
Serena is just an unbelievable champion. She’s constantly fighting and no matter what’s happened in her career, she seems to always come back and dominate.
What do you like most about facing a player of Serena’s calibre?
You know you have to play your best to beat her. She’s not going to give you anything. You have to go out and take it. Getting to play her in Australia was really fun. She’s an unbelievable player. It just makes competing that much better.
Right now you’re working with Lindsay Davenport. What do you like about working with her?
We have a very similar personality, so we get along really well. Having someone who’s done it, who knows what the ups feel like, what the downs feel like, who can put everything in perspective is an element that you don’t usually get.
What an amazing thing to be apart of #stealtheshow @Nikecourt pic.twitter.com/IaKulCeZ5c
— Madison Keys (@Madison_Keys) August 25, 2015
Having someone who knows what you’re going through, knows the nerves, knows the pressure, is hugely beneficial. They’ve done it and they’ve been through it, so having someone help you through that is what I’ve enjoyed the most.
A lot of people see you as the future of American tennis. Is that daunting at all for you?
I think it’s exciting. I think it’s something to embrace, and like Billie Jean (King) always says, pressure is a privilege. So being able to be that person is exciting.
You started winning on the WTA Tour when you were 14, so you spent a lot of your teenage years as a professional tennis player…
It was normal for me because I just really didn’t know what else I would be doing. But I still had somewhat of a high school experience. I went to prom and all that stuff. But I still got to do what I loved and got to treat it as a job.
What has been your favourite moment in your career?
I think beating Petra Kvitova this year (in the third round at the Australian Open). It was one of my biggest wins ever on a really big stage at a big tournament.
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It was really exciting and the stepping stone towards doing really well there.
Who is the toughest opponent you’ve faced in your career?
Definitely Serena. She’s an amazing competitor and one of the best in the sport ever. She’s someone who you have to play your best to beat.
If you could compete against any player, past or present, male or female, who would it be?
There’s just so many people that I think I would want to play. I would obviously love to play Roger Federer. I’m a big fan of him. I think it would be fun to play someone like Andre Agassi too.
When you have a day off from tennis, how are you spending it?
I do a lot of shopping, a lot of it online. I also love to bake. And if I’m not doing one of those, I’m usually just hanging out with friends.
If you could only have one of the following (Twitter, Facebook or Instagram) for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I’d probably be on Twitter. I think it’s cool how you just get to interact with people a little bit more. You can say whatever you want. If a random thought pops into your head, you can tweet it.
What would be the app on your phone you can’t live without?
Probably Snapchat. It’s super entertaining, and I have some really ridiculous friends who send me videos. It kind of gets me through the day sometimes.
What’s the craziest Snapchat that you’ve sent?
I think in Rome this year I was like jumping on my bed playing music and just being an absolute fool.
Who has the best style on the men’s pro tour?
I think Grigor Dimitrov has really cool style. It’s definitely kind of his own flair, but he always seems to pull it off.
Does your off-court style reflect your on-court style at all?
I’m pretty much the same person. On court I can be kind of sarcastic and lighthearted, not take things too seriously. I think I do that on and off the court.
In terms of what you like to wear, how would you describe your style off the court?
I love a classic look, but then I also love pairing it with something like combat boots. I’m into changing things up and having my own style by mixing elements of classic things.
If you’re going to listen to one song before you play a match, what would that song be?
Probably Eminem’s ‘Till I Collapse’.
If you could ask Nick Kyrgios one question, what would it be?
I would want to ask him what’s his inspiration for all of his different hairstyles and how much thought he puts into it.
