ASB Classic: Why being married to her coach is working for American tennis star Madison Keys

“He knows when to deliver information and how to deliver information – just based off what he would have wanted. We communicate really well and it’s always really nice to have someone who knows me very well, knows what I need to hear at certain times.”

This visit to Auckland is their first tournament as a married couple and the signs are positive. Keys is the highest-ranked player (world No 21) in the field and has lived up to that billing, with the most consistent displays so far.

After an efficient first-round win, she upped the ante on Thursday, destroying world No 85 Jaqueline Cristian 6-1 6-2 with a brutal display of power and precision. Cristian wasn’t an easy draw – and had won their previous match, in April last year – but was left in the dust. She had no answers, unable to combat the Keys serve, or deal with her shot-making off both sides.

Keys’ return game was particularly strong, as she came up with sharp angles and placement, even when a serve had pulled her out of court, while she also managed some brilliant winners on the run.

Does she surprise herself sometimes?

“I mean, in all honesty, sometimes my eyes are closed, so sometimes it’s a surprise to everyone when the ball comes off of my racquet,” laughed Keys. “Sometimes you just react and you stick your racquet out and good things happen. There’s definitely still some times where I have to recognise that I hit as good of a shot so that I can actually move forward and take advantage of that.”

On a serious note, Keys looks on song – and is surely the player to beat in Auckland. The 29-year-old hasn’t set results-based goals for 2025 – but is focused on translating work on the practice court into matches.

“Sometimes it takes a leap of faith to actually trust that it’s actually going to work [as] sometimes it feels like it’s safer to revert back to what you always want to do,” explained Keys. “So my goal is to really buy into that.”

Despite two rain delays, with the second lasting more than 45 minutes, Keys looked serene on Thursday. She accelerated out of the blocks, grabbing an early break and never really relented. Her serve was imperious – she lost only one point in the first set when her first serve landed – and Cristian was rattled.

The players exchanged breaks at the start of the second set – a brief respite for the European – before Keys resumed her dominance, with an inside-out forehand, over the highest part of the net, epitomising her confidence.

“I served well. I returned well. Not a whole lot of things to be upset about [on Thursday]. It definitely felt like kind of a step forward and some improvements from round one, so hopefully [I’m] able to carry that on.”

On Friday evening Keys faces fifth seed Clara Tauson, who prevailed in one of the matches of the tournament on Wednesday, a three-set battle over former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. The Dane, ranked 50, will be a tricky proposition but few would bet against Keys, who is aiming to continue her 100% record since she walked down the aisle.

“I mean, so far so good,” smiled Keys. “We’ve been married for almost six weeks, so I’m crushing it so far.”

Friday’s first match sees Bernarda Pera (USA) take on compatriot Robin Montgomery after the American was untroubled in getting past Japanese Nao Hibino 62 62 in 67 minutes, while former world No 1 Naomi Osaka is the big attraction of the day session.

Michael Burgess has been a sports journalist since 2005, winning several national awards and covering Olympics, Fifa World Cups and America’s Cup campaigns.