Laura Robson was one of several tennis stars who attended Madison Keys’ wedding (Image: Instagram @madisonkeys)
Madison Keys has enjoyed the best few months of her life. The world No. 7 recently lifted her long-awaited first Grand Slam title at the .
She’s also been enjoying herself off the court, marrying her coach and long-time partner Bjorn Fratangelo during the off-season.
Plenty of tennis stars were in attendance, including retired British ace , who admitted the celebrations were “too civilised” for her liking.
Robson was one of several players who headed to Charleston to watch Keys and Fratangelo tie the knot.
World No. 6 and recent Aussie Open doubles champion Taylor Townsend also attended. Sloane Stephens – who beat Keys in her first Grand Slam final at the 2017 US Open – was there, along with Desirae Krawczyk and Jennifer Brady.
Robson was the only Brit in the pack, and the wedding wasn’t what she was used to. The retired player-turned-pundit confessed that she was surprised at how promptly the reception finished.
“You know what? I have said to her – and maybe we’re just wronguns in the UK – but her wedding was so civilised,” the 31-year-old laughed.
“It finished at 11, so the dance floor finished at 10.30. And she was wanting to go to bed by 11 and I was like, ‘What are we doing? Where’s everyone off to?’”
Madison Keys won her first Grand Slam title with her husband and coach Bjorn Fratangelo watching on (Image: Getty)
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Robson did manage to influence the group to keep the celebrations going a little longer.
She continued: “Me, Maddi, Jess Pegula, Des Krawczyk and a few of the other girls that were there, we ended up being in the hotel lobby because it was the only thing that was open until midnight, and then they were like, ‘We’ve got to go to bed, it’s so late’.”
A few weeks later, Robson got to sit courtside to witness her close friend win the . The former world No. 27 became emotional watching Keys beat two-time defending champion to lift the trophy.
It’s no surprise the 31-year-old was tearful – she’s been friends with Keys since they were kids and still speak to one another every day. Explaining how they formed a bond, Robson added: “I’m a year older than her so initially, I thought I was too cool.
“Me, Sloane and Maddi all played the same tournaments like Orange Bowl. And our mums got on really well, and so they kind of put us together, and then she started training at Everts [Academy], and then I was there on-and-off around the same time.
“And we just stayed in touch as 14, 15-year-olds basically pen pals. We’d see each other at tournaments from time to time. But we just always were really good at communicating with each other.
“Even throughout all these years, it’s very rare that I don’t speak to her day to day. And even when I was going through all the injuries, all the horrible times in my career, I always had heard to bounce things off and just to take advice from, basically.”
Keys has already returned home to America since lifting the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and has appeared on a few morning TV shows.
But the world No. 7 also received some bad news as she was because of a rule stopping more than one top-10 player from entering WTA 250 events.
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