Madison Keys labeled a "coaching nightmare" by ex-American pro due to husband Bjorn Fratangelo's dual role as coach

Madison Keys was labeled a "coaching nightmare" by Sam Querrey, citing the dual role of her husband, Bjorn Fratangelo. Notably, Fratangelo was initially against coaching his wife, but Keys 'forced' him to take up the job.

During the latest episode of the Nothing Major Show, American ex-pros discussed the nominees for the season-ending Nothing Major Awards. For the award of 'coaching nightmare,' Sam Querrey was quick to name the 2025 Australian Open champion, Keys.

He cited the dual role of her husband as a coach and how arguments could travel to the court from their house.

"It's got to be Madison Keys. Her coach is her husband. Like, how do you separate like what's going on? I would just think that'd be difficult. What if you get in a little fight, but then we got like a Slam quarter we got to deal with right now. It just feels like a nightmare to coach your wife or vice versa, coach your husband. Yeah. Madison Keys coaching nightmare," Querrey said (from 21:50).

Keys began working with her husband, Fratangelo, as her coach in June 2023 after parting ways with her previous coach following the French Open. Fratangelo, a former world No. 99 who retired from professional tennis in 2023, gradually transitioned into a full-time coaching role, helping Keys find fresh tools and a renewed mindset on court.

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"I basically had to force him to come with me" - Madison Keys on beginning work with husband Bjorn Fratangelo

Madison Keys and Bjorn Fratangelo at the WTA Finals 2025 - Source: Getty

Madison Keys and Bjorn Fratangelo have a long-standing relationship that began in 2017 when they met while training at a tennis facility in Florida. They were close friends before their romance developed, and the couple stayed together for years while both pursued their careers.

Fratangelo proposed in March 2023. They married on November 23, 2024, in Charleston. By that time, Fratangelo had hesitantly begun coaching Keys. While speaking during her appearance on Good Morning America after winning the Australian Open, Keys stated (via Tennis365):

"He started helping me about a year and a half, two years ago, and he really didn’t want to. He said he was very uncomfortable with telling me what to do and did not want to do it. I basically had to force him to come with me."

Keys won two singles titles in 2025 and held a 37-15 win-loss record. She recently played in an exhibition in Charlotte during the offseason.

Edited by Aliasgar Ayaz