Madison Keys, who captured her long-awaited first Grand Slam title at age 30, has officially signed an equipment contract with Yonex as of March 2025.
At this year’s Australian Open, Standing atop the podium set up on Center Court of Melbourne Park, bathed in dazzling spotlights, she clutched the silver trophy in her arms.
“I’m absolutely going to cry. There’s no way I get through this without tears, so sorry in advance,” Madison Keys (USA) warned at the start of her winner’s speech. At that moment, her husband—former tour player Bjorn Fratangelo—watched her in a daze, his eyes welling with tears.
“Last year was so tough, with some really bad injuries, I didn’t know if I was gonna be able to do it again. And to be here and have this trophy, and my husband, who is looking confused over there... I love you too. I love you all so much.”
As the then-30-year-old Australian Open champion spoke through her tears, the 14,000 spectators in the arena also teared up, feeling a deep connection with her.
Keys turned pro at 14 years old and was hailed as a child prodigy, yet the Grand Slam title had always remained just out of reach. Her turning point finally arrived at the end of last year.
One of the “keys” that unlocked her dream was her new racquet. At the end of last year, she started using the Yonex EZONE. And the person who handed her this was none other than her coach/husband, Fratangelo.
“Bjorn and I, we were kind of starting to tinker with some things last year, making some changes. Kind of started with some of the injuries that I was having, just trying to make things a little bit easier on my body and my game.”
She recalled those days.
“I have really, like, no idea about racquets and string and all of that. I kind of just let him lead the charge and kind of give me options.”
And then, she found the key to success.
Describing the moment she first held the EZONE, she said, “I kind of fell in love pretty quickly.”
“I definitely think that I have a level of trust in things a little bit more with this racquet. I feel like I'm able to kind of go for things a little bit more, but have the ability to be able to control them a little bit more.”
She continued:
“I think one of the big things is, especially on the days where I'm not really feeling things, I felt like I have the ability to kind of manipulate things with my racquet and my hands and kind of have a little bit more safety, where I was kind of struggling with that before. I definitely think it's obviously been a huge benefit for me and has brought a lot more to my game.”
For a tennis player who tours the circuit all year, the ability to play well even on off days—and stay injury-free—is of utmost importance.
With her magic key in hand, Keys began unlocking doors to victory one after another. She won five straight matches to claim the WTA 500 title in Adelaide, then stormed through the Australian Open, defeating world No. 2 Iga Swiatek (POL) in the semifinals and top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in an epic final to capture her maiden major title.
She followed that up with a semifinal run at the BNP Paribas Open (WTA 1000) in March, notching a remarkable 16-match winning streak.
Now 30 as of February, Keys is still evolving. Fratangelo remarked, “There’s a lot of room for improvement.”
And then, with a playful glint in his eye, he added:
“That’s the scary part, in my opinion.”
Yonex and Madison Keys officially signed an equipment contract on March 2025.
With her Yonex racquet in hand, Keys continues unlocking doors to a new world.
Madison Keys (USA) | EZONE 98 / POLYTOUR REV 125