When Madison Keys Isn’t Dominating At The U.S. Open, She’s Designing Jewelry

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Committing to a sport often requires sacrifices: your time, your social life, your body, and sometimes even your personal style. In many sports, you can’t accessorize your uniform, and jewelry is typically off-limits due to casualties. But tennis is one of the few sports where you can actually wear jewelry, hence the watch craze. Well, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your performance. And for many tennis icons like Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Aryna Sabalenka, and recently, Ben Shelton — it never does.

For tennis champion Madison Keys, her relationship with jewelry on the court has evolved over the years—from the French Open to the Grand Slam and now the U.S. Open. This unique connection is exactly why she chose to partner with Brilliant Earth. Together, Keys and Brilliant Earth have unveiled Medallions with Meaning. While the word “medallion” may bring to mind a large, rock-sized charm, the Brilliant Earth x Madison Keys necklace is designed with practicality in mind, posing as a dainty charm, ensuring it won’t interfering or smacking her in the face during her match, even while she’s serving (literally and figuratively).

The medallion created in partnership with Madison Keys feels deeply personal and unique to her. ”I wanted this medallion to truly reflect who I am, so the design process was incredibly personal,” says Keys. It features nine diamonds along the edge of the pendant, symbolizing her lucky number, and incorporates motifs of moons and stars inside—symbols that hold special meaning as they are her sister’s favorites.

Below, we caught up with Madison Keys to talk everything from the U.S Open, how she gears up on the court, and the Brilliant Earth collab.

Can you walk us through the morning of a big match? What’s the atmosphere like, and how do you mentally prepare for such a high-stakes day?

I try to treat every morning routine the same, regardless of the stakes or the match that day. My mornings are consistent: I go for a walk to get coffee and breakfast, then begin mentally preparing for what’s to come. Once I arrive onsite, I practice, spend time with my team, and then head into the locker room for some quiet time to focus and prepare.

Is there one specific ritual, mantra, or item that you absolutely need before stepping onto the court? Something that grounds you or gives you extra mental strength?

I usually just focus on having a good warm-up and then speak with Bjorn [Borg] one last time to go over the game plan before heading out.

When preparing for a major tournament, especially one that involves travel, how does your approach differ from a regular match day? Does your routine or mindset change in any way to adapt to the pressure of bigger events?

I don’t change much from city to city. I have my favorite spots in each place and try to keep my routine as consistent as possible, no matter the tournament. The biggest adjustment is usually just the travel time—how early I need to leave for the venue depending on location, traffic, and so on. Most of the time, it really comes down to managing my energy and stress levels.

Fashion and personal style are an integral part of the tennis world. How does the “look good, feel good, play good” mentality influence your outfit choices? And could you tell us a bit about what you’re wearing today?

You always want to step onto the court feeling your best! Today, I’m wearing my Nike on-court scripted kit, paired with all my favorite jewelry from Brilliant Earth, including the very special medallion I created with their team, which carries deep personal meaning for me and my career.

Are you more of a makeup-on or makeup-off kind of athlete? If you’re on the “makeup” side, what are your go-to products or “holy grails” that help you feel confident on match day?

I’m definitely a makeup-off kind of athlete. I’m really into skincare, and my number-one “holy grail” is sunscreen.

The U.S. Open is one of the most iconic events in the sport. Do you have a particularly memorable experience from your time there, and how does the significance of the US Open compare to other tournaments in your career?

The US Open is truly special. I’ve experienced some of my greatest moments here, as well as some of my toughest losses. But nothing compares to the feeling of competing as an American in front of a home crowd—it will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Tennis is one of the few sports where athletes can wear jewelry on the court. How did this influence your decision to collaborate with Brilliant Earth on the Madison Keys collection? Was it always a medallion necklace?

Jewelry has always been an important part of my life, on and off the court—not just for its beauty but because the pieces hold real meaning for me. When I partnered with Brilliant Earth and discovered their ‘Medallions with Meaning’ collection, it felt like the perfect fit. This is my first time creating a product with a brand, and to have it be something so personal and special is exciting for me. The medallion design evolved naturally from our conversations about what would feel most authentic to my story. Working with the Brilliant Earth team to perfect every detail, knowing this piece would become part of my on- and off-court presence, I couldn’t have asked for a better partnership.

Can you share more about the design process behind the necklace? What kind of story or symbolism were you hoping to capture through this collaboration?

I wanted this medallion to truly reflect who I am, so the design process was incredibly personal. I love how we subtly integrated tennis elements—they’re woven throughout but don’t overpower the piece. The sun and moon motifs are a nod to my sister, the horseshoe represents luck, and those nine diamonds around the border represent my lucky number. The finished product is something beautiful and richly layered, where every single detail carries meaning. When I wear it, I’m wearing so much of my story—all captured in one beautiful piece.

The Madison Keys X Brilliant Earth collaboration celebrates themes of strength, resilience, and personal growth.How do you see these themes showing up in your life, both in tennis and beyond? What made you decide to center these values in a jewelry collection?

Strength, resilience, and personal growth are values I strive to embody every day in my life and career. When I sat down with the Brilliant Earth team, I kept coming back to these same values, which I believe are universally relatable no matter the path one chooses.