American tennis star Madison Keys didn’t mince words after her heartbreaking quarterfinal loss to compatriot Coco Gauff at the 2025 French Open, pointing to a specific in-match change that may have tilted the balance.
In her candid post-match press conference, Keys suggested that the shift in playing conditions, namely, the closing of the roof due to rain, played directly into Gauff’s strengths. She added that the change in conditions made an already tough opponent even tougher to overcome.
Madison Keys Advanced to Her Third Quarterfinal in Paris
Keys, playing in her 13th Roland Garros main draw, had put together an impressive run to the last eight, defeating Daria Saville, Katie Boulter, 31st seed Sofia Kenin, and Hailey Baptiste. But her quest for a maiden French Open semifinal was halted by second-seeded Gauff, who rallied from a set down to win 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-1.
The victory also allowed Gauff to level their career head-to-head at 3-3. While Keys gave credit to her young opponent’s level of play, she also didn’t shy away from calling out how the rainy weather and indoor conditions didn’t suit her aggressive, big-hitting style.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Keys was asked how much the closed roof and chilly temperature impacted the match. “Definitely a different environment to play in,” she said. “A lot more dead and slow [ball] with the roof closed, and obviously it’s cold and rainy. So yeah, just very, very different conditions.”
“I would much prefer it to be bouncy and hot, but that’s just kind of the reality of weather. I think conditions like today, unfortunately, played a little bit more into Coco and made her even tougher to beat,” Keys added.
Keys Accepts French Open Loss with Grace and Self-Belief
Despite the disappointment of the loss, Keys was composed and self-assured when reflecting on her performance. “I don’t really have regrets,” she stated. “I don’t think I played quite the level that I wish that I could have, but I don’t think that I regret not going for things or making poor decisions. I just think that what I wanted to do and kind of the level that I produced just weren’t on the same page today.”
She also offered thoughtful praise for Gauff, saying, “I would imagine that she’ll continue on the trajectory that she’s already on, having already won a slam and being two in the world. She’s also quite young, so I would imagine that she continues to do as well as she has been.”
With the win, Gauff secured her spot in a third career semifinal at Roland Garros, where she is set to face World No. 361 Lois Boisson. The French wildcard is enjoying a fairytale debut at her home Slam, having stunned 24th seed Elise Mertens, third seed Jessica Pegula, and sixth seed Mirra Andreeva en route to the semifinals.
The winner of this match will take on either top seed Aryna Sabalenka or four-time French Open champion Iga Świątek in the final.
