Madison Keys credits Jessica Pegula for inspiring her latest win in Charleston

Madison Keys is off to a strong start on the clay this season, even if it’s not quite the same surface as what she’ll face in Europe.

The American green clay is noticeably quicker than the red variety, and players find it harder to slide. For many Americans who begin their clay campaigns in Charleston or Houston, it doesn’t do much to prepare them for what lies ahead in Madrid, Rome, and Paris.

But with just two wins standing between her and a title, Keys won’t be too concerned about that right now. Her latest victory came against Belinda Bencic, where she battled back from a set down to advance.

After the match, Keys credited Jessica Pegula with giving her some motivation during the comeback. The 31-year-old said Pegula’s fight earlier in the day helped push her through a slow start against Bencic.

Madison Keys reaches the semi-finals in Charleston: her reaction to another win

In a post-match interview with Tennis Channel, Keys was praised for her energy levels, even though she started slowly against Bencic.

“I think I’m always trying to do that, today especially,” she said.

She added: “You just kind of know that when you’re playing someone like Belinda, it can get away from you so quickly. And I was a bit inspired by Jess just because she keeps staying in somehow.

“So it’s really just, I kind of kept reminding myself just to keep trying to get myself in games, even if you’re down, love 30, 15, 40, you never know when momentum can switch and you can kind of sneak a game or two.”

Discussing her immediate reaction after sealing the win with a loud ‘come on’, Keys said: “I think it was like, oh thank God. She was coming to the net. I just kind of knew that I needed to hit a good enough shot to get it by her.”

Pegula is also looking strong in Charleston and has reached the semi-finals. She will face No.3 seed Maria Sakkari next as both players aim for a spot in the final.

Madison Keys shares future plans for life after tennis

During her impressive run in Charleston, Keys has opened up about what she might do after stepping away from the game, sharing some thoughts on where her path could lead next.

Having lifted the Australian Open trophy last year, she’s already accomplished something many players can only dream of. Even if she walked away tomorrow, few would argue with her decision.

If that day does come soon, Keys seems well-positioned to move into a media role, especially given the popularity of her podcast, The Player’s Box.

The show features Jennifer Brady, Desirae Krawczyk and Pegula alongside her. Their perspectives have brought something new and honest to tennis commentary that fans have really responded to.

Speaking about her experience with the podcast so far, Keys said: “It’s definitely been a lot of fun. It’s always fascinating for us to see what the fans want to know.

“Obviously we go to press conferences and get these questions and we know what to expect while sometimes fans approach it from a different angle and it’s very fun to talk about something slightly different.”

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