Tennis is heating up, but the golf scene is on fire too. The tennis community can’t get enough of Rory McIlroy’s latest feat. On Sunday, the Northern Irish golfer became only the sixth player ever to win the career Grand Slam—Masters, Open Championship, US Open, and US PGA Championship—by clinching the Augusta Masters in a dramatic playoff against Justin Rose. The golfing world is showering him with praise. What makes this win even sweeter? It’s his first major in 14 years! Andy Roddick is especially thrilled, and the victory reminded him of Madison Keys. Can you guess why?
On the April 15 episode of the ‘Served’ podcast, Roddick dove right into his thoughts on Rory’s big win. He first drew a parallel between Carlos Alcaraz and Rory, noting how both make their skills look effortless and aesthetically pleasing, so much so that spectators “forget that they have to work at it and that it isn’t just always easy.” Roddick then referenced Rory’s emotional reaction—crying on the course for just the second time in his career.
He said, “You saw what it meant to Rory at the end. It was like, I was emotional, it was amazing and you wanted to see that moment.” But the former World No.1 also saw Rory’s long wait for the green jacket as a reminder of Madison Keys, who finally won the Australian Open this year. “It reminded me also back a little bit – what interview am I going to mention right now? – Madison Keys, from Australia. We’re talking about overcoming a decade of almost,” he added.
Madison Keys’ journey to her first Grand Slam title is a story of grit and perseverance. She suffered a tough 6-3, 6-0 loss to close friend Sloane Stephens in the 2017 US Open final, and reached the semis at the 2023 US Open against Sabalenka. After nearly 14 years of striving, Keys finally clinched her breakthrough win against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open this year. Her emotional triumph, complete with tears and a beaming smile, captivated viewers and highlighted the fulfillment of her long-awaited potential.
McIlroy’s career tells a similar story. He burst onto the scene with four major wins by 2014—including the 2011 US Open and multiple PGA Championships. He quickly rose to World No. 1 and was hailed as a future record-breaker. But despite staying near the top and racking up PGA and European Tour victories, majors eluded him for over a decade. Near-misses at the Masters and other majors only built up the pressure.
Roddick pointed out another challenge both veterans faced on their journeys: “I think expectations are the hardest thing in sports.” That’s spot on. Both athletes faced intense expectations, fueled by their early promise and consistent performances. McIlroy’s struggles, including late-round falters like at the 2024 U.S. Open, only heightened anticipation for a comeback. Keys, after her 2017 US Open final, felt similar pressure. How do these players feel now after their big wins?
Madison and Rory’s reaction to finally winning a major
Keys, after clinching her first Grand Slam at the Australian Open at age 29, wiped away tears and shouted in delight. “I have wanted this for so long and I have been in one other Grand Slam final and it did not go my way,” she said, her voice cracking with relief. The journey wasn’t easy. Keys admitted, “From a pretty young age, I felt like if I never won a Grand Slam, then I wouldn’t have lived up to what people thought I should have been. That was a pretty heavy burden to kind of carry around.” But by her late 20s, she made peace with the idea that she could still be great without a Slam.
And what happened next? She let go of the pressure—and then, boom, she beat the world’s top two, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, in back-to-back three-set thrillers to lift the trophy. “I feel like finally letting go of that kind of internal talk that I had just gave me the ability to actually go out and play some really good tennis to actually win a Grand Slam,” she said.
Rory McIlroy’s moment at Augusta was just as dramatic. “It’s [been] very difficult,” McIlroy admitted. “I think I’ve carried that burden since August 2014. It’s nearly 11 years. And not just about winning my next major, but the career grand slam. Trying to join a group of five players to do it, watching a lot of my peers get Green Jackets in the process. Yeah, it’s been difficult.” When victory was finally his, he said, “It was all relief. There wasn’t much joy in that reaction. It was all relief.”
So, what’s next for these stars? For Keys, she’s back in the mix at the top of women’s tennis, her confidence sky-high, and fans can expect her to keep swinging freely. McIlroy, now part of golf’s most exclusive club, can finally chase majors without that heavy shadow. Watching both finally win big? It’s a reminder of why we love sports!
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