"I picked up the chair & threw it over the fence" - Madison Keys opens up about her biggest on-court 'meltdown' that left her 'sobbing for an hour'

Madison Keys recently opened up about her biggest on-court “meltdown” from her junior days, recalling how frustration over an umpire’s decision pushed her to the edge. The American admitted she lost control and ended up throwing a chair over the fence in anger.

Keys, along with Jessica Pegula, Jennifer Brady, and Desirae Krawczyk, host The Player's Box Podcast. During their latest episode, each player was asked about their biggest 'meltdown.' Keys claimed her meltdowns are 'usually internal' rather than on the outside.

However, she narrated a story from her junior days that left the others gasping and laughing.

"The only ones I can really remember are from juniors, and I really crashed out hard a few times in juniors," Madison Keys said (from 41:30).

She recalled playing the 18’s Eddie Herr tournament at just 13 years old, where a scoring dispute with the chair umpire completely unraveled her composure.

Keys was leading the match and close to victory when her opponent argued the score, claiming it was in her favor. To Keys’ disbelief, the umpire accepted the correction and changed the score on the card.

"I was like, 'Wait, I don't understand what's happening. Like, I'm literally up match point. What are you talking about?' And we got into this fight, and I proceeded to just go from what I would say is pretty chill to just immediately sobbing and inconsolable... And I proceed to lose my ever-loving mind, and I picked up the plastic chair and threw it over the side fence," Keys explained.

The meltdown cost her the match as she couldn’t regain focus, losing the final set. Afterward, she sat alone in a corner, sobbing for nearly an hour.

"And then I just walked off the court and was in a corner sobbing for literally an hour. And then I was like, 'Okay, I probably shouldn’t ever do that again.' Pretty okay since then," she added.

Soon after Keys completed her story, Pegula was asked if she could 'top that,' but she disagreed and narrated a story about her off-court meltdown instead.

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A look at Madison Keys' junior career

Madison Keys at the WTA Finals 2025 - Source: Getty

Madison Keys made waves early in her junior years, most notably capturing the prestigious 12-and-under Junior Orange Bowl title. At age 13, she continued to excel, winning the Grade 1 Copa del Café in Costa Rica, becoming the first American girl to claim that title.

Her junior peak came when she reached a best ITF junior ranking of No. 16 before fully committing to the professional tour after the 2011 US Open. Transitioning to the pro circuit, Keys brought with her the aggressive game that had served her so well on the junior level.

Her early successes as a junior laid the foundation for her senior career. Pegged as one of the most potential-filled WTA stars from the USA, Keys finally laid her hands on her first Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open earlier this year. She will be playing at the WTA Finals up next.

Edited by Aliasgar Ayaz