Thought For The Day – Monday 3rd February 2025
If You/We Ever Doubt…
If you ever doubt yourself… If we ever doubt ourselves… Inspirations are all around us.
Madison Keys played her first professional tour tennis match aged just 14. When she was Year 7 age, Madison was tipped to be a future “Grand Slam” champion. She reached her first “Grand Slam” semi-final, in Australia, aged 19, and her first “Grand Slam” final, in the United States of America, aged 22.
But, despite winning tournaments around the world, being a top ten tennis player, and often hitting the ball faster than any player, female or male, the “major” championship eluded her. Five heart-breaking “Grand Slam” semi-final losses. Great expectations became a significant burden.
Significant injuries, despite all the meticulous preparation work Madison did, and the resilience she has, and anxiety and nerves, despite her deep emotional intelligence, played a key part. Severe injury, for example, came in an epic match at Wimbledon last year. Madison left the court devastated, after playing so well.
All this did not stop Madison Keys being a brilliant role model on and off the court. She stood up to cyber bullying. Very appropriately, she founded a charity called “Kindness Wins”. She became an advocate and role model for women and girls in sports and life. She represented her country, the United States of America, including at the Olympics. She helped and encouraged other players and the sport generally. She represented.
In the last couple of years, Madison said she looked “within” too, being prepared to be honest, uncomfortable and vulnerable, using therapy for support, acceptance, understanding and, ultimately, letting go. Sometimes, something has to be lost to be found.
“I kept telling myself, ‘I’m looking for progress, not perfection’”, said Madison. She said she learnt she could still be nervous and play good tennis.
This winter, Madison Keys trained again. For the love of the game, to be the best version of herself. Intrinsic motivation. She changed her racquet, refined her serve, putting in the hard yards once again, with characteristic good humour.
In November, Madison married her long-time partner, Bjorn, and now, coach. “2024 will be hard to top but we will try”, wrote Madison in the new year.
Aged now 29, and nearly 30, Madison won her tenth career WTA tournament, her second in Adelaide, in January 2025.
Madison Keys entered her 46th career major tournament in Melbourne, Australia, determined to play her brilliantly positive game, point by point, be present in the moment, solving any problems in matches and thinking calmly and clearly. But, with each winning match, momentum quietly built. The route to the final, like her career, was outstanding, resilient and challenging. By the end of the tournament, this would include: a joint record number of three set matches; a record number of games; matches against the players ranked second and first in the world, and five top ten players in all.
So, against the odds, another “Grand Slam” final. Seven and a half years on from the last. This time, no nerves. This time, no regrets. This time, positivity. This time, reward.
A very fast start. One set up. But, with no surprise, her opponent, Aryna Sabalenka, the player ranked first in the world, and going for her third consecutive Australian Open title, came back. A deciding set. Build the comeback. Serving first in the decider is an advantage and a disadvantage. One break and the scoreboard pressure builds, especially with any momentum shift in the second set. It takes character to keep holding, to keep asking the question of the opponent. As the commentator said: “Stand up straight, shoulders back, deliver.”
Until…finally…just one match point, based on years of great work and great citizenship, was all it took. A career and lifetime in just one second. A person’s, and family’s, dedication, determination, destiny and dreams fulfilled.
People were very supportive and happy for someone who had always been happy and supportive of so many others.
Never stop believing.
And help others to believe in themselves.
