Madison Keys has been a professional tennis player for over sixteen years. Born on February 17, 1995, in Rock Island, Illinois, she was inspired to play tennis after seeing Venus Williams on TV as a child. Madison began competing at a young age and turned pro on her 14th birthday in 2009.
As a homeschooled teenager, Madison’s typical day consisted of tennis drills from 9 to 11 am, online high school from 12 to 3 pm, playing matches from 3 to 5 pm, fitness training from 5 to 6 pm, and then homework from 7 to 9 pm. We featured Madison in the March 2015 issue of Homeschooling Teen (see: Madison Keys: Teen Tennis Pro) after she amazingly beat her hero, Venus Williams.
Obviously her early training paid off! Back then we wrote, “We’ll definitely be hearing much more about this rising tennis star in the coming years!” Sure enough, Madison Keys has really made a name for herself in the professional tennis world. She’s known for her explosive power, aggressive baseline game, and heavy forehand.
A consistent presence among the world’s top competitors, Keys has earned 10 WTA singles titles, reached a career‑high ranking of No. 5, and captured her first Grand Slam title at the 2025 Australian Open, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in a dramatic final.
Keys entered the 2026 Australian Open as the defending champion, where she reached the fourth round before losing to close friend and podcast co‑host Jessica Pegula. Keys remains ranked inside the world’s Top 10 and has qualified for the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals. She is now resting up ahead of that tournament.
Madison Keys is still active in her charity and media projects. She continues to champion Kindness Wins, the nonprofit that she founded. It remains one of her major off‑court passions. Madison’s goal is to use her global platform to spread kindness through her words and exemplify kindness through her charitable actions. Madison’s mother serves as the president of Kindness Wins.
In November 2024, Madison married fellow American tennis player Bjorn Fratangelo, whom she had been dating since 2017. Fratangelo began coaching Keys in June 2023 and coached her to her first Grand Slam title at the 2025 Australian Open. They live in Orlando, Florida. Outside of tennis, Madison’s interests include interior design, baking, plants, and spending time with family and friends.
Madison Keys’ and Jessica Pegula’s podcast – which is named The Player’s Box – is also co-hosted by two other American players, Jennifer Brady and Desirae Krawczyk. If you’re interested in going behind the scenes of the tennis world, the Players Box drops every Tuesday. Listen on Apple or watch on YouTube.
