As a result of Keys’ Australian Open win, she has climbed back inside the WTA top 10 and matched her previous career high of world number seven.

The American has come through some recent injury struggles to win her first major, that included Keys crying off court at Wimbledon after suffering a hamstring problem in her fourth round match with Jasmine Paolini.

Despite finally crossing the line of winning a Grand Slam, former world number one Jimmy Connors does not want Keys to stop there.

Jimmy Connors does not want Madison Keys to live off Australian Open win

Keys appears to be a popular Australian Open champion, receiving tributes from numerous different players on tour.

The now 29-year-old was a big prospect from a young age, with Keys winning her first WTA Tour level match at just 14-years-old.

This is something that the aforementioned Connors touched upon in the latest edition of his podcast, as he praised her hard work and dedication.

Connors also revealed his hope for Keys to push on from this Australian Open win and continue her impressive form this year.

‘To be around as long as she has been around – she had big credentials when she came in and big expectations that she was going to be the next Grand Slam winner and an American and carrying the flag,” said Connors.

“To have stayed in there and not been afraid to grind it out and sacrifice and do whatever it has taken to get to this level, it has been very interesting to watch. Looking back over the course of this tournament, the draw she had, she beat everybody!

“When you stay around for that long and have these expectations sometimes you fall into it. She did not fall into winning this tournament. She earned it beating the players she did and in the style that she did. She has to look back with such pride on her play and attitude.

“Do you know what I hope for now? I hope she rides that tomorrow. Instead of going away and thinking I won a Grand Slam and live off that for five years. Ride it while you can, you have this year, give it all you have got and feel excited and proud about your game and every time you walk out there want to show that. I hope she does that, because that would turn out to be a great year for her. It’s a great year already but you might as well keep it going!”

Where is Madison Keys in the race to the WTA Finals?

The Australian Open champion is now one of four American women inside the top 10, with Keys joining Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro.

Keys will now be setting her sights on qualifying for the WTA Finals for the first time since 2016.

Alongside her Grand Slam victory, Keys also won the Adelaide International and currently sits at the top of the race to the year-end tournament in Riyadh.

Keys will also be boosted by a new rule brought in place last year that means that a major winner from the year who is not inside the top eight places will qualify, something that Barbora Krejcikova benefited from.

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