Madison Keys had always dreamed of lifting a Grand Slam trophy. This year, at the Australian Open, that dream became reality. From being labeled a “tennis prodigy” at just 14 to battling injuries that slowed her career, her journey has been nothing short of inspiring. She stunned the tennis world with a victory over two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the Melbourne final, securing her first major title. But the good news didn’t stop there. The American tennis star unlocked a new career milestone and none other than the legendary Chris Evert is appreciating her success.

Madison Keys’ stellar run saw her defeating World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the semi-final and World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final. This led her to reach a ranking of World No.7, a career-high ranking she has held before as well. Keys not only matched her career-high ranking of No. 7 after the tournament but she’s now set to reach a new milestone. Despite not playing since the Australian Open, she has climbed to World No. 6 and will move up to No. 5 when the updated WTA rankings are released on Monday.

The achievement hasn’t gone unnoticed. 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate her, writing, “Congratulations 🎉🎈Maddy, well deserved, keep going!”

Her rise in the rankings comes at the expense of World No. 7 Elena Rybakina, who struggled during the Middle East swing and was unable to defend her Abu Dhabi title points. Meanwhile, the Australian Open champion had no points to defend, as she started her season late last year due to a shoulder injury. This shift in rankings marks the highest position of Keys’ career.

Even without stepping onto a WTA court since her Melbourne triumph, Keys continues to rise in the rankings. And soon, she’ll be back in action, looking to maintain her new position among the world’s best.

Madison Keys is ready to come back to tour after her Australian Open triumph

Following her Australian Open victory, Madison Keys withdrew from the Singapore Open and the Middle East swing to allow her body to recover after a grueling start to the year. However, fans won’t have to wait much longer to see her back in action. The American tennis powerhouse is expected to return at Indian Wells, which kicks off on March 5, 2025. That will be followed by the Miami Open, running from March 16 to March 30.

Interestingly, the Australian Open champion had planned to play at the ATX Texas Open in late February but was unable to due to WTA rules. According to the regulations, only one top-10 player is allowed to compete in tournaments offering 250 ranking points. Since fellow American Jessica Pegula had already committed to the event, Keys had to sit this one out.

As the new World No. 5 prepares for Indian Wells, she’ll have her sights set on World No. 4 Jasmine Paolini, who is just ahead of her in the rankings. The Italian recently suffered an ankle injury at the Dubai Tennis Championships, and it remains to be seen if she’ll be fully fit in time for the North American hard-court season.

With a Grand Slam title under her belt and a new career-high ranking, Madison Keys is ready to step back on the court. Can she carry her Australian Open momentum into the rest of the season?