Madison Keys’ Grand Slam window wasn’t just closing. It had been slammed shut. She has always been an excellent player, but it felt like women’s tennis had passed her by. Far from her peak in 2017, when she was ranked No.

Days after her first Slam title, the tennis star shares what stoked her confidence, how she tweaked her game, and why representation matters on the court.

Keys said she first tried speaking with a sports psychologist when she was around 18 or 19, then tried working with others.