Madison Keys, a professional tennis player, has expressed her desire to not receive a text message from Frances Tiafoe, her fellow American tennis professional, prior to the Australian Open final. This statement might seem odd to those outside of the tennis scene, but if delved deep into the context, it reveals a comical superstition that exists between the two athletes.
Keys explained the origin of this playful ritual in an interview, saying, “It started in Cincinnati, and of course, he sent me a text before the finals.” For context, at the Cincinnati final in 2019, Keys, who had been performing exceptionally, lost against Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova after receiving a text from Tiafoe. Hence, she playfully associates that text message with her loss, insinuating she may not want a repeat of such a message.
Tiafoe, for his part, seemed in concurrence with Keys during an interaction at the ATP Cup. “I usually don’t text her before finals. I did it once and she lost and then she told me not to do it again so I’m not going to text her”, clarified the male tennis professional, demonstrating admirable respect for his fellow player’s superstitions.
Keys, however, doesn’t dismiss all communication with Tiafoe. She humorously encouraged him to keep texting, “But don’t stop texting me. But just not… if I’m in a final, maybe don’t do it that day”.
As both tennis players maneuver their way further in the Australian Open, with Keys reaching the finals and Tiafoe continuing with upcoming matches, it will be interesting to see if this peculiar superstition between the two continues to persist.
Last modified: January 25, 2025
