NEW YORK — For professional athletes, a crushing defeat in a championship final can linger for years, a haunting memory of what might have been. For American tennis star Madison Keys, the sting of her 2017 US Open final loss to Sloane Stephens was so profound and immediate that her post-match recovery plan involved a potent and immediate remedy: a double shot of tequila.
Eight years on from that fateful afternoon on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Keys has opened up with refreshing candor about the 6-3, 6-0 defeat that was over in a brutally swift 61 minutes. In a recent reflection, the now-veteran player detailed the emotional whirlwind and the unconventional, yet effective, method she employed to begin processing one of the toughest days of her career.
A Dream Final Derailed
The 2017 US Open was supposed to be a triumphant homecoming for American tennis. For the first time since 2002, two American women, both close friends, were set to battle for the title. The stage was set for an epic contest. Keys, the powerful 22-year-old with a thunderous serve and groundstrokes, had bulldozed her way through the draw without dropping a set, including a dominant win over fourth seed Elina Svitolina. Her opponent, Sloane Stephens, had mounted an incredible comeback from a foot injury that had sidelined her for nearly a year. The narrative was perfect.
But from the first ball, the final failed to live up to its billing. Keys, overwhelmed by the occasion and stifled by Stephens's impeccable defense and counter-punching, was never able to find her rhythm. The errors flowed from her racquet, while Stephens played what many described as a flawless match. The result was a lopsided scoreline that belied the talent of both players.
In the aftermath, during the trophy ceremony, Keys’s raw emotion was on full display. Fighting back tears, she congratulated her friend before telling the crowd, "I told myself I wasn’t going to cry, but… Sloane is truly one of my favorite people and to play her here was really special. Obviously I didn’t play my best tennis today and was really disappointed, but Sloane, being the great friend she is, was very supportive." The vulnerability endeared her to fans worldwide.
The Immediate Aftermath: A Liquid Solution
So, what does an athlete do after such a public and painful disappointment? For Keys, the answer was found not in a therapist's office or a long solo run, but at a bar. She recently revealed on a podcast that her first stop after leaving the court was to consume a double shot of tequila.
"I went straight to the player restaurant and bar and was like, ‘I need a double shot of tequila right now,’" Keys recounted. "I sat there with my team and we just had a moment of, ‘Well, that was awful.’" This unvarnished admission highlights the very human need to take the edge off a moment of extreme emotional pain, a feeling relatable to anyone who has ever experienced a profound setback.
The gesture was more symbolic than a attempt to drown her sorrows. It was a definitive act to mark the end of a grueling two-week tournament and the beginning of the healing process. It was a shared moment of solidarity with her team, who had invested just as much emotionally into the journey. They had witnessed her incredible play to reach the final and felt the acute disappointment of the performance that followed.
Reflection and Resilience Eight Years Later
With the benefit of hindsight, Keys’s perspective on that day has evolved. While the loss still smarts, she now views it as a critical, formative experience in her long career. It taught her about pressure, expectation, and the immense difficulty of winning a Grand Slam, even when you are playing the best tennis of your life.
In subsequent interviews, she has articulated a more philosophical view. "It took me a while to get over it," she admitted. "But it also made me stronger. It made me realize that I could get to a final, that I belonged on that stage. I had to learn from it and not let it break me."
That resilience has defined the rest of her career. While a major singles title has remained elusive, Keys has consistently remained among the game's elite, returning to the semifinals of the US Open in 2018 and the Australian Open in 2015, 2017, and 2022. She has won seven WTA titles and has been a fixture on the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup team. The player who broke down in tears in 2017 has matured into a respected elder stateswoman on tour.
The Unbreakable Bond with Stephens
A crucial element of this story that softened the blow was the identity of the victor. Losing to a close friend is a unique kind of pain, but it also came with a built-in support system. Keys and Stephens, both products of the U.S. tennis system, have known each other since they were juniors. Their friendship survived the pressure-cooker environment of a Grand Slam final.
Stephens’s compassion in victory was evident. She consoled Keys at the net and spoke glowingly of her in her champion's speech. This mutual respect turned a potentially awkward situation into a testament to their character. Their bond demonstrated that some things are bigger than tennis, a lesson that undoubtedly helped Keys process the loss more quickly than if it had been against a bitter rival.
Keys has often echoed this sentiment, stating, "I'm really happy for Sloane. If there was anyone I had to lose to today, I'm glad it's her." While the tequila shot was the immediate reaction, the enduring friendship provided the long-term solace.
A Story That Resonates
The reason Keys’s story about the tequila shot resonates so deeply is its sheer relatability. It strips away the glamour of being a professional athlete and reveals the person underneath—someone who hurts, who feels embarrassment, and who sometimes needs a strong drink and a good laugh with friends to cope.
It’s a far cry from the often-sanitized, corporate answers athletes are expected to give. It was honest, human, and humorous. It also serves as a perfect bookend to a narrative that began with tears and ended with a shared moment of resilience. The key takeaways from her experience are universal:
- Allow yourself to feel disappointment: Suppressing pain only prolongs the healing process.
- Lean on your support system: Whether it's family, friends, or coaches, you don't have to go through it alone.
- Find a way to mark the moment: A ritual, even a simple one, can help you turn the page.
- Use it as fuel: Let the setback motivate your future success.
Conclusion: Beyond the Scoreline
The 2017 US Open final will forever be in the record books as a 6-3, 6-0 victory for Sloane Stephens. But for Madison Keys, the story of that day is so much more than a scoreline. It’s a story of a dream deferred, of public vulnerability, of friendship, and of the beginning of a long journey of resilience.
The double shot of tequila has become an iconic part of that story—a symbol of acknowledging a painful reality before choosing to move forward. It was the first step in a process that saw her transform a moment of brutal defeat into a cornerstone of a successful and enduring career. Eight years later, she can look back not just with disappointment, but with pride at how she handled one of the most challenging moments an athlete can face.