"It started when we had a little more tennis dialogue" – Bjorn Fratangelo on how his relationship with Madison Keys evolved into coaching

"I think just really buying into: 'Let's just go for it and be open to change.'"

The quote above tells you all you need to know about Madison Keys' approach to tennis right now. Keys is heading to the Australian Open final after defeating Iga Swiatek in a closely fought semi-final.

It was a monumental result for the American, as she gets another shot at securing her first Grand Slam title. Of course, a player cannot flourish alone—they need a strong team behind them. Bjorn Fratangelo, her husband, is also the head coach of the world number 14.

Fratangelo has opened up about how his relationship with Keys has evolved since taking on a full-time coaching role.

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Madison Keys through to the final

In 2017, Keys entered the US Open final hoping to win her first Grand Slam in front of a home crowd. However, it wasn't meant to be that day in New York. Few would have predicted that it would take the American eight years to return to a Grand Slam final.

Keys has had a stellar Australian Open campaign and will look to cap it off with a trophy. She will take a lot of momentum and belief into the final after defeating second seed Swiatek.

The 19th seed was considered a big underdog heading into the match, with many expecting the Polish superstar to advance. However, in a hard-fought battle, Keys secured a 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(8) victory, ending her long wait for a Grand Slam final.

She displayed incredible resilience, bouncing back after dropping the first set and dominating the second, losing just one game. The third set was a tense affair, with Keys saving a match point and ultimately winning the super tie-break 10-8.

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Reflecting on the match, Keys admitted she didn't realise how close she was to elimination:

"It was so up and down, and there were so many big points and break point chances that neither of us got," Keys told Casey Dellacqua in her on-court interview.

"Did she have a match point? I feel like I blacked out at some point, and I was just out there running around. To stay in it, keep fighting, and then a 10-point tie-break for an extra-dramatic finish."

Her coach, Bjorn Fratangelo

Fratangelo transitioned from playing to coaching full-time in 2023, taking on the role of head coach for his wife. He recently discussed how their relationship dynamic has changed since then.

"It started when we had a little more tennis dialogue in our relationship.

"When we decided I would be with her full-time, it was like: 'How much do you want to get out of this? Are you happy with staying (rank) 11 through 25? Do you want to try to push for more? What do you want? You're almost 30 years old.'

"I think she's nowhere near her full potential. Sharpening the axe can get you far, but sometimes you need new tools. That's what I've tried to bring to the table. And I think she's done an unbelievable job at being receptive and taking that on."

Fratangelo also spoke about the stress of watching his wife compete from the coaching box.

"It's nerve-wracking. I try to stay as calm as I can in the box, but I'm not going to sit here and lie to you and tell you that I don't have a pulse. You feel helpless. When I'm just sitting there watching, yeah, it's another level of stress," he shared.

Keys' shot at Grand Slam glory

Madison Keys

Keys will now get another opportunity to achieve Grand Slam greatness, as she faces Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final. With her confidence at an all-time high, she will be eager to seize her moment and lift her first Grand Slam trophy.

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