The Power of Perseverance and Resilience

I’m not sure if many of you are tennis fans, but I spent some time watching the Australian Open tennis tournament this weekend as an American, Madison Keys, won the women’s division of the tournament. I had read some details about her history leading up to the tournament (her husband is her coach!) and was intrigued by her story and openly rooted for her to win. This marked a defining moment in her career, and a testament to the power of resilience. After years of ups and downs, setbacks, and near misses, Keys’ triumph in Melbourne was not just about winning her first Grand Slam—it was about proving that persistence, hard work, resilience, and belief in yourself can overcome any challenge.

Keys has been an important member on the tennis circuit since the 2017 US Open, where she made her first Grand Slam final. Yet, despite her talent, she never reached the pinnacle of her sport-winning a major. In interviews during the tournament, she mentioned Injuries, inconsistent form, and the ever-present pressure of living up to her potential as roadblocks that kept getting in the way. But rather than getting discouraged, Madison embraced her setbacks as stepping stones, using them to fuel her comeback.

At the Australian Open, Keys stayed calm under pressure, especially in key moments during the final, and showed maturity beyond her years. When her opponent made a late charge, Keys didn’t crumble. Instead, she found another gear—serving up one ace after another, attacking every point and not being afraid to fail. I love this quote she gave the crowd:

“It’s been such a long road to get to this point,” Keys said after winning the title. “There were so many moments where I questioned myself, but I’ve learned that setbacks aren’t the end—they’re just part of the journey. You just have to keep moving forward, even when things feel impossible.”

Her win wasn’t just about the shots she hit on the court—it was the mental strength she displayed off of it. Keys' ability to keep going, even when the tennis world questioned if her time would come, speaks volumes about her character.She’s been in the sport since her early teens and has been able to see many talented players rise and fall, but through it all, she never gave up.

“I’ve always believed that if you keep putting in the work, keep staying focused, the results will come,” she said in an interview leading up to the final. “And today, it just clicked. It’s about trusting yourself, even in the tough moments, and knowing that your time will come. This is my moment.”

This is a great message for all of us. I have a couple of teams I have been working with that have struggled a lot to get wins this year despite close results and they both have kept working and trusted their coaches and the work they put in. Both won big games Friday night and kept the faith that the work they were doing was the right one. We have all had challenging stretches where it doesn’t feel like we are accomplishing what we want and seem to be getting some bad breaks. Honestly, my last few weeks have felt that way! But we need to follow Keys’ belief in resilience and trusting the process of the who we are and the work we are doing.

Madison Keys’ victory serves as an inspiring reminder to all of us: perseverance pays off. Even in the face of disappointment, setbacks, and doubt, resilience can propel you to heights you never imagined. For Keys, hopefully this win is just the beginning, and it’s a clear message to young athletes and adults alike: never give up, and your moment will come. Have a great week!

Coach K