Along with Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter, Naomi Osaka and Daria Kasatkina, the tour’s newest Grand Slam champion has signed up for the WTA 500 at The Queen’s Club.
Keys is a seasoned grass-court player – she has lifted titles in Birmingham and Eastbourne. But the 30-year-old has never competed in the week of the grass season, which comes immediately after the French Open.
For American players like Keys, the back-to-back clay and grass swing means they spend almost three months away from home if they don’t take a week out to fly back.
The world No. 6 has traditionally used the week after the French Open to return to the United States. But she has given up her time at home so she can compete at Queen’s.
“When I was talking to Madi, she usually doesn’t play the week of what the event will be,” tournament director Robson told Express Sport.
“That week just after Roland Garros is usually when she would go home but considering it’s a brand new event, she wants to support it, she wants to experience it for herself, then she’s making the effort to stay in Europe.
“I think that kind of tells you where people’s heads are at and basically how they can’t wait to get going.”
Keys and Robson are close friends who go way back. They first met at under-12s competitions, and barely a day has passed since then without them being in touch.
While Keys was always keen to come and support Robson and the WTA 500 in Queen’s, the tournament team arranged the Aussie Open winner’s appearance through her agent.
Olympic silver medallist Robson added: “Obviously she knew months ago when I was announced as tournament director that she was hoping to play but you never know how schedules are going to work down the line and which events she was going to prioritise.
“It came about officially a while ago now and to have her involved is just fantastic considering how well she’s playing at the moment and fresh off the Aussie Open win.”
After signing up for the new WTA 500 tournament, Keys said: “I can’t wait for the HSBC Championships.
“Getting to compete there for the first time and experience playing at The Queen’s Club is going to be such a special occasion. I love the grass court season, some of my favourite memories of my career have come when I won titles in Birmingham and Eastbourne.”
Tickets for the HSBC Championships are available now via the LTA’s website.
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Publish date : 2025-02-22 00:00:00
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