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Q. Your reactions to your performance. Was it better than you'd hoped for? Your assessment of your performance.

MADISON KEYS: I mean, I'm definitely happy with how I played. You know, couldn't really ask for a better way to start a Grand Slam. I was definitely nervous going out there, but was able to work through some of the nerves at the beginning. She started playing better in the second set. But just really happy to be able to kind of hold her off and keep playing so well.

Q. Younger players talk about nerves. What is your tricks of mental gymnastics of getting over the nerves?

MADISON KEYS: I definitely think it's just focusing on your game, you know, not really kind of overthinking the moment, being an American playing at the US Open. If you overthink it, you know, you can definitely start getting more and more nervous. So I think for me just really focusing on my game, you know, having my game plan, knowing what I'm going to do helped me a lot today.

Q. We talked to Catherine Bellis today, a 15-year-old. Is it your sense you're part of this wave of new generation of American players that in the next 10 years will be a group of players doing really well?

MADISON KEYS: Yeah, I definitely think there's a big group of women and men, you know, right now that are slowly doing better and better, kind of making a name for U.S. tennis more and more. I'm really happy and honored to be one of the people that's part of the big group.

Q. Catherine won today. She's 15. What did you know about her before today?

MADISON KEYS: I mean, I knew she had won the wild card, after winning Kalamazoo, whatever it's called for girls. Then I saw her up on, you know, the screen and things like that. I knew that she won. Congrats to her. That's a massive win. Was it her first WTA match ever maybe? Yeah. I mean, that's not a bad win. I bet she's very excited. I'm really happy for her.

Q. As someone that started very young yourself, what kind of advice do you have for someone in the spotlight?

MADISON KEYS: I would have to say to embrace it but also not overthink it. You know, you can definitely get very nervous and you can really kind of start overthinking things and expecting a lot of yourself. So I think she just has to go out, have fun and keep playing. She has plenty of years ahead of her.

Q. You look at players playing at 32, 33. Can you see yourself doing this for 15 more years, at a pretty high level?

MADISON KEYS: 15, 16, 17 years, that would put me almost at 40.

Q. Let's say 10, 11, 12.

MADISON KEYS: Okay. I think I could still be playing. Hopefully my body can hang on and all that. I mean, we love what we do or else we wouldn't be here. So I think all of us will be playing until the day that our bodies tell us that we cannot play any longer.

Q. After your match it seemed you related to the fans. They gravitated towards you.

MADISON KEYS: I have been in the seats and I know what it's like to be out there watching, be super excited, stay after a match and want an autograph and things like that. So for me I want to be one of those people that can sign as many autographs as I can, take as many pictures as I can, because they're part of the reason why I'm here. They're the people that stay out there late and they watch my matches and cheer me on. Me taking five minutes out of my day to try to get to everyone, do as much as I can, it's not that hard for me.

Q. Every year it's the same thing, American tennis is dead. As part of this new group, why do you think it is important that you plant the flag and get American tennis where it was 20 years ago?

MADISON KEYS: I think that it's definitely on the upswing. I definitely think we're one of the countries with the most people in the top 100. I think we're one of the only countries with as many people in Grand Slams consecutively. So when people say that American tennis is dead and things like that, you know, you kind of take it a little personal. Someone went as far as to say that Serena Williams is the only American player, male or female, worth talking about or watching or anything like that. So I took that a little personal. But I think Serena's amazing. She's out there, she's winning Grand Slams. She's going for her 18th Grand Slam now. I think you have to kind of put it in perspective that she's one of the greatest of all time. I think a lot of times people expect every American to live up to that standard, and that's not going to happen. You know, there's only so many Serena Williams or Chris Everts or Martina Navratilovas. I definitely think American tennis is getting better and there are more people in the top 100 and competing in Grand Slams. So I think everyone is kind of expecting a lot. But then they're also not giving us full credit. I think everyone is just a little impatient right now because there was definitely a lull for a while where there weren't many people, but I think we're definitely getting better. I think in the next five years there will be a big group of Americans.

Q. Are you talking about the powers that be? Who is getting impatient? Are you talking about within the tennis world?

MADISON KEYS: I just think everyone in the tennis world. We definitely get a lot of support from them. That's kind of all that we're asking for, is just some support. You know, just keep cheering us on and we'll keep getting better.

Q. How was it like for you when you had to make a choice about college or not?

MADISON KEYS: Personally for me, I never really wanted to play college tennis. I signed when I was 14. So for me it was never even really an option. I've always wanted to be a professional tennis player. I couldn't imagine going to college first and then coming here. So for me it was an easy decision. But other people want to go to college first and then become a professional. I think it's really just each person is different in their choices.

Q. In Italy we have strong women, and the men's side is not very strong. What is it that American girls have compared to the men's side?

MADISON KEYS: Can I plead the Fifth on that one? I know a lot of the U.S. guys, and they're all very hard workers. I want everyone to do well, especially on the men's side. The women's side has definitely been doing better than they have for a little while now. Hopefully we can inspire some of the boys and they will get their rankings up.

Q. If you're a guy, basketball, baseball, football, hockey, are there more distractions?

MADISON KEYS: I think that could be part of it. I think for women, we definitely have less professional sports that we could be really good at. But guys have a lot more. So I think that could be part of it.

Q. Obviously a tough day at the office. What do you think was not where you wanted it to be? What about her game made it hard to play your best?

MADISON KEYS: Uhm, I mean, I just didn't play well when it mattered. I played okay at times. I played better in the second set. But then when it really mattered, I just didn't play well. Was that like a really depressing answer or something (smiling)?

Q. You look really upset.

MADISON KEYS: Yeah. I don't know how you can come off the court and be happy with that, so...

Q. Was it a lot of expectations you put on yourself? This is a match you were supposed to win. Is that something that made it harder than a normal match, also being your home slam?

MADISON KEYS: I don't think there's, you know, an external pressure. I think it was just all me putting pressure on myself. And obviously it was better than other times. I could have completely fallen apart after having set points in the first set, but got it back. I just kind of, you know, it was kind of a rocky day all around. Even when I was winning in the second set, it wasn't great tennis.

Q. Do you feel like you weren't executing or your tactics weren't clear?

MADISON KEYS: I don't think I was executing as well as I wanted to. But then I also think, especially towards the end of the third, my tactics were not good.

Q. How do you regroup from here?

MADISON KEYS: I just, you know, have to learn from it, move on, get ready for the next tournament. There's a couple more weeks in the year. Hopefully end on a better note than this.

Q. Do you feel like you struggled with the fact that she got so many balls back? Do you think some of those balls might have been winners against another type of player?

MADISON KEYS: I think she was very consistent. I think that was definitely her strength, especially towards the end. I don't think I played the right game against her. I was going for too much, trying to force things that weren't there. I definitely think I should have backed off and just tried to play a little bit slower and smarter. So, yeah, I mean, I think she played very smart. Hopefully in the future I can learn from this and, you know, play better against it.

Q. Do you think it's probably because you have so many weapons that it's hard to figure out how to manage it all, when to use the firepower?

MADISON KEYS: I think sometimes I try to hit my way out of situations because I know in certain times I can do that. You know, I can get away with it. Then sometimes like today it backfires on me. You know, I just have to get better at realizing I can't hit myself out of every situation and I have to figure out another way to, you know, figure out the match and try to win.

American teenager Madison Keys will add Jon Leach to her coaching team instead of Wim Fissette. Leach's wife, former No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, was also recently brought as Keys' coach.

Earlier this week, Fissette was named one of Keys' coaches, with the Belgian scheduled to work with her at European events. Leach had been hitting with Keys in California over the past month since Davenport has been unable to play because of foot surgery. Taking a liking to Leach, Keys decided not to continue on with Fissette, who helped Simona Halep reach No. 2 in the world this year.

Leach was a college star and four-time All-American at USC. Davenport and Leach will work with the 19-year-old at big tournaments, and will eventually hire another team member to help out at the smaller tournaments. Davenport and Leach have four young children; the whole family will travel together, or one parent will have to remain at home in California.

Now ranked No. 30, Keys was previously coached by Juan Todero and Jay Gooding of the USTA.

Madison Keys def Yaroslava Shvedova 6-7(4) 6-3 6-3

Q. You spoke on court about being more mental and physical today. Can you elaborate on that?
MADISON KEYS: Yeah. I think, you know, today it was definitely more I think physically I was kind of in the match, but it was kind of a moment where I had to kind of dig deep and figure some things out just to win a couple points here and there in order to win the second set.

And then I think I did a really good job of carrying that through into the third set.

Q. What do you feel these first couple matches have told you about yourself or told us about you? You've had to dig deep.
MADISON KEYS: Yeah, I think I definitely have been working a lot on the mental side of my game. Being able to kind of just stay a little bit more composed through whatever is going on on the court, just figure some stuff out when I'm not playing, you know, perfect tennis.

Q. Out there on court you sometimes hear the fans when you unleash on a big forehand. How does it feel when you hit a particularly big forehand? Do you hear the crowd response at all?
MADISON KEYS: I mean, as long as it goes in, I don't really care (laughter). I mean, obviously, you know, I can hit some big shots and stuff like that. At the end of the day, you know, if you're not hitting more of those than missing them, it doesn't really matter.

Q. There have been some great forehands in recent times, Roger's, Blake's. Any particular forehands you were impressed with?
MADISON KEYS: I think the one forehand I always think about is James Blake's return of serve at the US Open that one year. It was unbelievable. That's kind of, I think, one of the greatest forehands ever.

Q. Ana Ivanovic next. Talk about how you feel you match up with her game. You play somewhat of a similar approach, but how do you see your chances there?
MADISON KEYS: I think we've played one time. Honestly, I don't even remember it, to be honest.

I think obviously she does well here. She can play really well. It's going to be a tough match. Hopefully I can improve on some stuff from today.

It will be interesting because we do both play similar and the aggressive style. I think whoever kind of gets to, you know, strike first is going to be the one who comes out on top.

Q. It's interesting you say you don't really remember the match. Some players keep every point in their head for 15 years. Are you like that or not really?
MADISON KEYS: There's some matches, and then there's other matches I can't even tell you where I played Ana. I know we played somewhere at some point and I lost. That's about all I remember.

Q. When you say you're working on the mental game, what things specifically are you doing to improve that?
MADISON KEYS: I think the biggest thing is just kind of changing my perspective on a lot of stuff. Instead of it being a daunting thing, you know, being down a set, just kind of taking it as a challenge, knowing that I've worked really hard for, you know, all of the off-season and I'm ready to be in the position.

You know, just go out there and be super positive about it.

Q. Rather than saying you're in trouble, it's more like you're going to come back?
MADISON KEYS: Exactly. Just thinking of it as a challenge. Thinking, I can stay out here all day; do whatever I need to win. Not thinking of it as, I just lost the first set; I have to win the next set.

Q. We haven't heard much about your baking recently. How is it going? Are you still doing that?
MADISON KEYS: Still going strong. Helped grandma out at Thanksgiving this year. But other than that, haven't done a ton. Just been really busy. Unfortunately, there's no kitchens in hotel rooms, so...

Q. What was the toe issue in the third set?
MADISON KEYS: Just a blister.

Madison Keys def Ana Ivanovic 4-6 6-4 6-4

Q. Great comeback. Talk us through how that match went for you.
MADISON KEYS: Yeah, I had chances in the first set. Wasn't really able to convert. Had one bad service game. Then kind of just a battle throughout the whole second set. A little bit of slow start in the third.

I managed to kind of get it back and figure it out, fight back and get the win.

Q. What did you tell yourself towards the end of the second set when you were down?
MADISON KEYS: I think it was just, you know, try to get one more ball, one more ball; just stay in it; make her win it and not give it to her.

Q. You love playing in Australia. You did well here last year. Great crowd support. What is it about the Australian Open that makes you perform so well?
MADISON KEYS: You know, I love whenever I come here, every city I visit. It's one of my favorites. I just think Australians are so welcoming. I think after last year, I kind of created somewhat of a fan base.

Coming back to that is always great. Even tonight, even playing Aussie Ana, I definitely had some of my own fans.

Q. Talk about your potential two opponents, Zhang and Lepchenko.
MADISON KEYS: You know, Lepchenko, I've played her a couple of times. We're both from the States. I know her well. I don't know if we've ever played a match. Yeah, we have. She beat me. She can be tough and crafty.

Zhang, we're so happy for her now. She's won not only one, but two main draw matches. That's great for her. I haven't played her since three, four years now. Obviously she's playing well if she's had the upsets that she's had, so either match will be tough.

Zhang Shuai def Madison Keys 3-6 6-3 6-3

26 January, 2016
Madison Keys, 4R, 25 January 2016.
Q. Talk about the injury, what you had, and when it first really started to bother you.
MADISON KEYS: Kind of did at the end of the first set and then just got worse and worse.

Yeah, I think just probably pulled, tore an adductor. Yeah, it's pretty much it.

Q. Had you felt it against Ana, that same injury?
MADISON KEYS: No. That was kind of my ab, which then also started to go in this match tonight.

Yeah, so that was something else. Yeah.

Q. Madison, why keep playing?
MADISON KEYS: I mean, you don't want to -- one, I hate retiring; two, you don't want to do that to someone who is trying to get in the quarterfinals.

Q. Was there a hope that if you played on you maybe able to get better for the quarterfinals?
MADISON KEYS: Yeah. I thought maybe I could figure it out and somehow get through and then have a day off and try.

But obviously that didn't happen.

Q. Is the leg problem something -- you've had problems in the past I think, right?
MADISON KEYS: Yep.

Q. Same spot? Similar thing?
MADISON KEYS: Yep.

Q. Any thoughts on how to solve it?
MADISON KEYS: Trying. If you have a magic pill, let me know.

Q. It's kind of an obvious question, but how disappointed are you?
MADISON KEYS: I don't think there is a word for it.

Q. How frustrating is it having put all that work in in the off-season and you feel like this is something that you've dealt with before and that's crept back up?
MADISON KEYS: Also don't think there's a word for it.

Q. Are you impressed with how long you were able to stay out there and compete at the highest level?
MADISON KEYS: I think on some shots I kind of just closed my eyes and kind of just slapped the ball. Not fully impressed with myself.

Yeah, but, I mean, you know, yay me for staying out there.

Q. The commentator on Channel 7 said without injury tonight you could win the match for sure. Do you think so?
MADISON KEYS: I don't know. You never know. You can't say that.

Q. Is there any regret at all?
MADISON KEYS: No, I don't think so.

Q. You're a Grand Slam finalist here at the US Open facing another American. How does that feel?
MADISON KEYS: It feels absolutely amazing. You know, these are the moments growing up that you dream about, and, you know, to be sitting here as a US Open finalist, it feels really amazing.
Q. CoCo was in here, and she was disappointed, she's crying, very upset. She says the reason she was so upset was not that she lost, but it was how she lost. She said she didn't have a say-so. Your play was so dominant. Talk about the match tonight, what you were able to do.
MADISON KEYS: I played really, really well. It was kind of one of those days where I came out and I was kind of in a zone, and I just kind of forced myself to stay there. I knew I was going to have to play really well in order to beat her, and, you know, I feel like once things started going, it just kind of fell into place. You know, luckily I was able to close it out the way that I did.
Q. You have a friendly relationship with CoCo and have done well against her this summer. Sloane was in here saying how close you guys are. How difficult is it to play against a friend, and how have you been able to succeed at that?
MADISON KEYS: It's always tough, but I think the interesting thing about us is we have kind of been around each other for a long time. I have played Sloane before. I'm pretty sure she killed me (smiling), but I think it gets easier and easier as time goes on to play each other.
It's just -- you figure out how to separate your friendship from being on the court, and obviously both of us want to win, and I think when we come off the court, we're able to leave what happens there and still have a great friendship off of the court.
Q. The wrap on your leg didn't seem to affect you. Is that just maintenance?
MADISON KEYS: Yeah, I felt it at the end of my match the other day, and then I just didn't want it to become something that would be bad. So as soon as I kind of felt it get the tiniest bit worse, I just had it wrapped to try and prevent anything from happening.
Q. How different are you and Sloane as players, and how would you describe the elements of your respective games that make you different?
MADISON KEYS: I think Sloane is really good at defending, obviously, but I think we're similar in the fact that we both like to try to attack and be on offense.
Yeah, I mean, I would say she's probably more comfortable defending and not going for bigger shots before me, but I would say we are very similar in a lot of ways.
Q. Speaking of similarities, you have both gone through a lot this year. What perspective can you give on what you went through to get to this spot after the beginning of the year and what she's gone through?
MADISON KEYS: I was actually just laughing and thinking who would have thought in Australia that Sloane and I would be the finalists at the US Open? Neither one of us were playing at the time, both just having surgeries.
So it's really amazing, and, I mean, I have known Sloane for a long time, and she's a close friend of mine. So to be able to play her in both of our first finals is a really special moment, especially with everything that we have gone through this year.
Q. You have both been through so much and you were talking the other day about the state of American tennis, and here you are in the final with Sloane. Does it seem like the time is right that you have both bloomed at the same time?
MADISON KEYS: I think we both had -- I mean, both of us had done well in previous years. Whether it was not being able to handle things and the pressure, injuries, all of that, it feels like we have always kind of been around, but it was kind of this tournament where we both put everything together and went on a really good run.
Q. Can you tell us a little bit about your friendship with her? Since when do you know her? When do you spend time with her?
MADISON KEYS: I have known Sloane since we were juniors. We played junior tournaments together. We have been on Fed Cup teams together.
Whenever we are around, we try to go to dinner with each other and hang out. More than that, she's always someone who I know, you know, is always there watching, and she'll text me no matter what. We are always kind of keeping tabs on each other and rooting for each other.
Q. Have you been to dinner with her here in New York?
MADISON KEYS: Here? No, I have played night matches every night. She's been asleep before I have (smiling).
Q. When I was talking to Lindsay at Indian Wells, I think she said you guys more planning ahead to 2018. Now you're in a slam final. I don't know if it was Stanford or what, maybe it hasn't clicked in yet, where you said, hey, I can do things quickly?
MADISON KEYS: No, we haven't had that discussion. I just remember the first match in Stanford, she just said, You've got to take a breath and let it happen.
Since then, good things have been happening. It just feels like since then everything is kind of falling into place, and, yeah, I think we just sped up the timeline a little bit.
Q. Did you come here thinking that you could be a champion?
MADISON KEYS: No, I definitely did not. I really was just going match by match, just wanted to have some good ones and feel good every time I came off the court.
Yeah, I still haven't fully let myself think about being in the finals.
Q. You had wrist surgery. That was terrible. Then you go to the French Open, and it turns out you're going to have to have surgery again. On that flight back, and in that period, what were your thoughts? And how did this process happen that you're now a US Open finalist?
MADISON KEYS: I mean, I will say that both times I went in for surgery, it was kind of a relief. Well, the first one, I was in lots of pain. So I came out and I felt a lot better.
Then the second time, you know, hearing that there was still something going on, so I wasn't crazy, was kind of a relief to me.
Since then, it's just, you know, it's been a big weight off of my shoulders and I'm playing really free. More than anything, I'm just really, really enjoying my time on the court.
You know, I think that's been a massive part of why I have been playing well.
Q. My follow-up is that you have had this process of being off the circuit, having to do the surgery and the procedures, but Sloane, too. She was off for 11 months. Just talk about the process in tennis where you can step away, go through all this tough periods and then come back and succeed.
MADISON KEYS: Well, I think time away, as good as it is, just to take a step away from it all, is good, but you realize how much you love doing this and being on the road and playing tennis.
So I think you just really appreciate being out here. I think that's Sloane and me right now. I think we're both just loving our time on court, and I think it's really showing.
Q. This is of course very much an individual sport, but is there any sort of significance you can attach to the idea of your first Grand Slam final being against another young American player?
MADISON KEYS: I mean, I think it's amazing. I definitely never envisioned it happening this way, but I couldn't think of a better person to have this first experience with.
Q. As for, I guess, the broader idea of questions that have been around about is there going to be another American woman after the Williams sisters to step forward and win Grand Slam titles, and now you'll have two first-time finalists from the U.S., is there a significance to that, do you think?
MADISON KEYS: I mean, I think so. But I also think you have CoCo who made a semifinal, and you have lots of young up-and-comers, and I definitely think, you know, the American women are doing really well right now.
I think this tournament has just shown that.
Q. Is it just a coincidence or is there something positive that came out of being injured that affected your tennis, made your tennis better? I mean, Sloane was injured and now she's in a final. Cause and effect doesn't seem to work with injuries and getting better, but, I don't know, was there something about it? Do you become more focused or is that just nonsense?
MADISON KEYS: No, I think you take a lot of pressure off of yourself. I know for me last year, my only focus was to get to Singapore. I kind of lost sight of how much I actually loved the game, because it was just every week, it was just chasing points. That's all I could focus on.
Being away from the game and just remembering why I love competing and all of that, I think it helped me tremendously, and I think, not being there, it just made me realize how much I love it and not to put so much pressure on myself, which I think helps me enjoy being out there a lot more.
Q. Monica Seles looked like an incredible competitor, but she insisted she wasn't competitive. She just loved hitting the ball. What do you love about it? What is it you actually figured out you love about it and you got back to it?
MADISON KEYS: I mean, I love -- I love that feeling when you hit the ball perfectly and it comes off of your racquet. But I also love those matches, like the other night for me, when I played Svitolina. Feels like you're down and you very well could be out, and you figure it out and you come back and you fight, those are the moments that I absolutely love.
Q. Was that a process that you came to, or have you always known that about yourself?
MADISON KEYS: It's definitely something that I have learned to love more. In certain situations, it could be overwhelming, but the more that I have been in those situations and figured it out, the more that I have had the belief that I could get out of any situation I was put in.
Q. You and Sloane made your big breakthroughs at the Australian Open making the semis. How different are you as a player and even as a person maybe now that you made your step through the door and played so well in your second semifinal?
MADISON KEYS: Well, the biggest difference was I wasn't playing Serena this time (smiling). Yeah, so -- but I think this time around, it's been in the pressure situation, and I kind of knew what to expect.
I have done a lot better job of not worrying about outside voices and influences and things like that, and just focusing on myself and what the people closest to me are saying.
Q. At 22, it still feels like you have been around for a long time, played your first US Open as a young teenager. I'm curious what you might say to that young girl, now having experienced all you have gone through.
MADISON KEYS: I would mostly say maybe don't take those losses so hard. Things eventually work out a little bit better.
Q. CoCo is not the only player that's kind of sad after a match loss to you that says I'm a power player and I did not have control. What's it feel like to be one of those players alongside players like Serena, like Petra? What is it like to have that type of game? What pressure does that add when you play a player like Sloane who is going to defend and try and get balls back?
MADISON KEYS: Well, I think as far as being that kind of player, a lot of times it's really great or it's really terrible. Finding that middle ground on the terrible days is the toughest part.
But today everything kind of just worked for me, and if I wanted to go in a certain spot, that's where I went, and it seemed like it worked.
I mean, playing Sloane, I know she's going to get a lot of balls back, and she's going to reset the point over and over again.
I'm just going to have to be patient and, you know, not go for too much too soon and just try to keep building points until I finally have the right ball.
Q. Do you think tonight was the best you have played in a big match, in a match with high stakes?
MADISON KEYS: Yes, I would say for sure. I mean, I think I played well in Stanford, as well, in the finals, but I don't think it was nearly the level that it was tonight.
Q. Is there going to be extra pressure or extra motivation for you that winning after your coach was the first before the Williams sisters, so this can be extra pressure or extra motivation for you? Winning as a first woman in the 21st Century besides Williams sisters at home, as a home Grand Slam, is gonna be pressure or motivation for you? You wish it's going to be different slam, Melbourne or Paris?
MADISON KEYS: I don't even know where to start with that. I think, if anything, it's great that I have Lindsay in my corner. She's been in the situation and she can help me through it. As far as that, I don't think having her as my coach is more pressure.
I mean, what better place to be in your first Slam final than at home with a great crowd who's going to be behind both of us. On top of that, getting to play my friend, I think it's just an amazing opportunity. I'm going to go out there and do my absolute best.
Q. During the last Australian Open, Sloane spoke of being on the couch all the time. Were you on a couch? Did you call, text, otherwise encourage each other? Do you remember?
MADISON KEYS: I think Sloane and I were talking. I know -- I remember I saw her before she went to Brisbane, or maybe Sydney. I was in LA. I had just started hitting again.
She got there, and all of a sudden, I saw that she came back. I was just, like, Hey, what's up? Why are you back in L.A.? She said, Unfortunately I have to have surgery. She went in a couple of days later. And then I think we both just texted each other and said, This really sucks.
I mean, from then on, I have always been talking to her and texting her, you know, keeping in touch. I think we have really helped each other.
Yeah, I think we definitely know what the other was going through throughout the year.
Q. Can you recall the first time you ever met her?
MADISON KEYS: No, I can't. It's been a really long time (smiling).
Q. You talked about being in the zone tonight. When do you realize you're in the zone? Is it during warmups? First game, when you first broke her? When are you...
MADISON KEYS: I just felt really good, kind of just even in the first game. I felt like everything was kind of working. Then I had a really good return game right off the bat.
Then I was focusing on not telling myself that I was in the zone, and then I just kind of tried to keep my mind clear and just stay in that.
Q. So then how do you bottle it for Saturday?
MADISON KEYS: If anyone knew how to do that, I think they would be, like, the richest person in the world (smiling).
Q. On a lighter note, we know that tennis players have different victory rituals, like Agassi bowing to the Four Corners, the Bryan brothers chest bumping. If you do win in the final, will you, like you did at Stanford, go and sit on Sloane's lap?
MADISON KEYS: I don't have -- like, I don't really see into the future, so I don't know. I guess we'll see how the moment plays out.
Q. Do you think that photo of you with the braces up in Ashe was good luck?
MADISON KEYS: No, I wish it was gone. If I never saw that again, I'd be fine.
Q. What do you think you and Sloane have shown this year by the way you have come back from these injuries?
MADISON KEYS: I think that we have just shown that we really love the game and that we are willing to work hard and do whatever we have to do to be back.
But I think more than anything, it just shows that, you know, we can be put into any situation and no matter what we're going to come back and, you know, do really big

Q. Congratulations for making the final.
MADISON KEYS: Thank you.
Q. Despite losing, what have you learned about yourself these past two weeks?
MADISON KEYS: You know, obviously I didn't play my best tennis today. I'm really disappointed. But if you told me as I was getting on a plane to go have my second surgery that I could have a Grand Slam finalist trophy in my hands at the end of the year, I think I'd be really happy.
I think I mostly learned that I'm a fighter. No matter what, I can figure things out. In a couple of days, I will be really happy, but right now still a little bit disappointed.
Q. Why don't you think you played your best today? Was it more emotional, mental, or was there anything physically bothering you?
MADISON KEYS: I think at the end of a Slam, both -- whoever is still on the court is physically going to be feeling something. I definitely think my play today came down to nerves and all of that, and I just don't think I handled the occasion perfectly.
Q. What would you do differently if you could do it over?
MADISON KEYS: Win some more games (smiling).
Q. Can you tell us if the leg, your strapped leg, had any impact on your game today? And if you felt this morning while warming up, that it wasn't going to be a good day for you?
MADISON KEYS: I don't think I was moving perfectly, but at the same time, I'm not going to take anything away from Sloane. I think she played really well. I don't think I played great. I think that's kind of a combination for a disaster for me.
Yeah, I mean, I'm obviously not happy with how things went out there, but I still fought as hard as I could and I did everything that I could and came up short today.
Q. Seems like a pretty special friendship. Can you talk about that moment when she came over to the chair and you guys shared a moment there?
MADISON KEYS: I think, you know, we have known each other for so long and we have been through so much that we wanted to share that moment with each other.
To be able to share my first Slam experience with a really close friend when it's also her first Slam is a really special moment. Again, if there was -- there's no one else in the world that would have meant as much as it did.
Q. How would you describe what Sloane has done this year from the time of her injury, surgery, through this Open championship?
MADISON KEYS: I think what she's done has been absolutely amazing. She's obviously playing some really good tennis right now, and the fact that she had all that time off, to then come and kind of go on this streak that she's gone on is really unbelievable.
But Sloane has always had the talent. I think not being on the tennis court for so long really helped her realize how much she loves the game, so in a lot of ways, I think it was the best thing that happened to her.
Yeah, I'm really happy for her, and, you know, I'm sure -- hopefully, we will have many more Slam finals against each other.
Q. You have been talking about how you have been able to be more open about your nerves and what you were feeling before this match. What were those discussions like with Lindsay? What was she able to tell you and maybe settle things and what you were thinking going into the match?
MADISON KEYS: I mean, I was obviously nervous all morning. Sloane's a tough opponent to play when, you know, you're not making a lot of balls, but then, at the same time, she's not going to miss, either. So it was kind of I didn't totally know what to do once I got on the court which just intensifies those nerves even more.
So I was definitely not feeling 100% good on the court at any point.
Q. On the same kind of theme, do you think her game style absorbs the nerves a little bit better because she keeps getting the ball back and you're looking for that first strike?
MADISON KEYS: I think so, but at the same time, it's the same situation for both of us.
I feel like had I played a bit better, then maybe nerves would have come into play a bit more. At the end of the day, she just outplayed me today.
Q. After the match was over, and you saw Lindsay, what was the first thing she said to you?
MADISON KEYS: I mean, she just said, Tough one. Gave me a hug. That was pretty much it. She's on to her second job right now on Tennis Channel.
Q. I think you watched the end of Sloane's semi match when she won and advanced to the final? Lindsay said you got goosebumps and got excited about it. Were you excited for your friend or you wanted to get there too?
MADISON KEYS: In that moment, it was completely about Sloane and being so happy for her. I think it's really special when, as an athlete, you see another athlete, not even just in tennis, when they do something remarkable and amazing. I think it's a really special, cool thing.
When she, you know, won and put her hands in the air, I just got chills. I was just so happy for her.
Q. Is there any chance you would join her celebration tonight?
MADISON KEYS: Yeah, of course, I would 1000% go. She can buy me drinks, all of the drinks (Laughter).
Q. You said you didn't expect a run to the finals to happen here at the US Open this year. I'm wondering, looking ahead to the rest of the year, do you feel like you can play freer in any way? Because you have already done so much more here than you could have imagined.
MADISON KEYS: I think so. Right now, I haven't even gotten to that part. The thought of being on a plane to go to Asia to play more tournaments is the last thing on my mind (smiling).
But, no, I think in a lot of ways the last couple of weeks for me has shown that when I kind of just relax and take the pressure off of myself good things can happen. So I'll definitely try to replicate that in the future.
Q. Can you articulate kind of how you process the emotions of great week, awesome two weeks, unbelievable what I just did, versus coming off the court and dealing with the loss and disappointment? How hard is it right now? How conflicted does it feel?
MADISON KEYS: It's obviously really conflicting. On top of that, I'm really sad for me, but I'm so happy for her.
Like I said, I think drinks will help me through this tough time (smiling).
I think right now it's not the time to kind of try to sort of through my emotions, because I don't even know where I am.
But I think tomorrow or even the next day, this last couple of weeks for me has been amazing, and I'm going to look back and be really happy, but right now it still really hurts.
Q. You said obviously you two go back a long way and you said she's always had the talent. When you were sort of young coming through with her, did you always think that talent was so exceptional that she was a potential sort of Grand Slam winner to do what she's done today?
MADISON KEYS: I mean, maybe not so much in juniors. I don't think as a 13-year-old you have that will kind of, you know, ability to think that far in the future.
But I have always known -- when she made her semifinal run in Australia, I think we all saw how great she was, and it's always been there. I'm definitely not surprised that she was able to do this.
Q. Did you need this result getting to the final for it to be an arrival moment for you, or did you already feel like you arrived on the tour?
MADISON KEYS: I mean, I think there's different levels of that. I have obviously been in the year-end Championships, made Top 10, so there are a lot of things I have done that kind of were goals of mine and being in a slam final was one of them.
And so I kind of get to check that little box off, but definitely still going for walking out of here with a big smile on my face.
Q. What drink is Sloane going to have to buy you tonight?
MADISON KEYS: We'll see. We might go all over the place tonight (smiling).
Q. With Serena Williams saying she'll be back on tour, perhaps the Australian Open, what do you see in your crystal ball for you, Sloane, Serena, Venus, CoCo, and what do you think lies ahead for the group of you?
MADISON KEYS: Well, firstly, I would need a crystal ball for that, which I do not have, but I think American tennis is in a really good place right now, and I think having Venus and Serena being the greats that they are and kind of, you know, leading the pack, I guess you could say, is really great.
Obviously CoCo had an amazing week, and I think there is lots of good things to come.
Q. Have you actually been invited to the celebrations or is this a hint for her that she should invite you?
MADISON KEYS: No, I was invited. The hint was, like, you should buy me a bag or something tomorrow (smiling).