
Madison Keys’ phone would have been buzzing with congratulatory messages when she walked off the Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday. The American overcame Elina Svitolina in three sets to reach her third Australian Open semi-final.
Yet amid the flood of well-wishes, there’s one name in her contact list that the 29-year-old hopes remains absent: her close friend and fellow American, Frances Tiafoe.
Despite their friendship, Tiafoe, who teamed with Keys to win the United Cup in 2023, has received a text ban from the 29-year-old. The reason? Superstition.
“No, I probably won't text him,” Keys said. “We have this kind of joke where in the past he wouldn't say anything pre-tournament or anything, and then he would text me, like, in the quarters or the semis or something, and I would lose the next round.
"So we have this new rule. Like I saw him a few days ago, and I said: ‘Don't text me, I don't want to hear from you at all, just leave me alone and we'll talk after the tournament’.”
Keys won the title in Adelaide earlier this month and is on a 10-match winning streak. The World No. 14 is aiming to reach her second major final (US Open 2017) when she takes on Iga Swiatek on Thursday.