"Don't text me...": Madison Keys has Frances Tiafoe ban in new rule implemented during Grand Slams

Wednesday, 22 January 2025 at 23:13

Madison Keys ten years on from the first time as she saw off Elina Svitolina on Wednesday at the 2025 Australian Open. As a result, her and Ben Shelton are the first American man and woman to reach the semi-finals in the same year since Serena Williams and Andy Roddick in 2009.

But it also comes with a ban on contact with another American player in Frances Tiafoe as she was quizzed post match about whether she would text Big Foe and she said that she has implemented a ban which seems up to press to be working.

“No, I probably won't text him,” said Keys. “We have this kind of joke where in the past he wouldn't say anything pre-tournament or anything, and then he would text me, like, in the quarters or the semis or something, and I would lose the next round.

"So we have this new rule. Like I saw him a few days ago, and I said: ‘Don't text me, I don't want to hear from you at all, just leave me alone and we'll talk after the tournament’.”

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But jokes aside, she was ecstatic to reach another semi-final. After such heartbreak against Aryna Sabalenka at the 2023 US Open, there was wonder if she would reach another but she keeps rebounding and amid the American rise of Gauff, Navarro, Pegula among others it is Keys that stands tall.

“It feels great,” she said. “I'm really, really proud of myself to be in another semifinal here and kind of hoping and looking forward to see if I can make it one step further. I think now that I've been in this position a few times, I can definitely try to lean in on that.

“At this point, I mean, everyone has also won some really great matches, and we're all playing some really good tennis. This is really what they call the business end of the tournament.

“So as much as you have experience in all of that, at the end of the day it's also you just have to go out and do your best and leave it all out there.

“I think as long as I can do that, no matter what happens, then I can walk away with my head held high.”

But what of her next match as Iga Swiatek awaits and she analysed that tough test.

“Iga is tough to beat, because she has a lot of spin, kind of naturally, on both sides,” said the American.

“She’s a good server. She’s a good returner. She moves incredibly well. The biggest thing that makes her so difficult to beat is, because she moves so well, if you miss your spot just slightly, she has enough time to recover, and then the point goes back to neutral.”

Madison Keys and Ben Shelton are the first American woman and man to reach the #AusOpen singles semifinals in the same year since Serena Williams and Andy Roddick in 2009 🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ZdEyUSN1fe
— Christian's Court (@christianscourt) January 22, 2025

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