Achieving Dreams and Moving Forward
What happens when you finally reach your ultimate goal after years of effort? How do you maintain your motivation afterward? Madison Keys, the winner of this year’s opening Grand Slam, shares her insights.
“From the time I was 14, I always wanted to win a Grand Slam and was curious about what that would feel like,” Keys expressed to reporters at Roland Garros. “For 16 years, it remained an unanswered question, and now that I’ve achieved it and felt that success, it’s surreal. I’m left thinking, ‘Wow, this is the first time I’m not unsure anymore.’ It’s like, ‘I did it.’ I believe the most significant aspect is moving beyond achieved goals and setting new ones for the future.”
Currently enjoying a 7-0 winning streak in major tournaments, including victories over Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, Keys prepares for her first Grand Slam competition as a champion.
Highlighted Matches on Monday
No. 10 Paula Badosa vs. Naomi Osaka
Head-to-head: 0-0.
This match features two talented 27-year-olds: Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam winner and former World No. 1, and Badosa, who has reached as high as No. 2. It’s surprising they have not faced off before.
Badosa aims to maintain her third-round streak at Grand Slams, while Osaka seeks to continue her strong performance after winning a WTA 125 event in Saint-Malo and putting in solid efforts in Rome.
No. 7 Madison Keys vs. Qualifier Daria Saville
Head-to-head: 1-1 (both on clay in 2016).
Keys has been quite successful in first-round matches at Roland Garros, with 11 wins out of 13. Saville, despite a mixed record against Top 10 players, hasn’t secured a victory in such matches for seven years.
No. 12 Elena Rybakina vs. Qualifier Julia Riera
Head-to-head: 0-0.
Originally scheduled to face Belinda Bencic, Rybakina returns to Paris after winning the Strasbourg title. Riera, from Argentina, enters the main draw after winning her qualifying matches.
