Wimbledon star struggling not to 'pull her hair out' on eve of tournament

Madison Keys has voiced her concerns about the current political climate under U.S. President Donald Trump, suggesting it has had a negative impact on global kindness.The American tennis star, who won the Australian Open this year, is set to face Romanian player Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the first round of Wimbledon on June 30. However, before she attempts to break through the quarter-final barrier, she expressed her struggle to remain optimistic during Trump's second term in the White House.

"It's definitely a tough time, and it's hard to balance where you want to be informed and know what's going on, but at the same time, it's crazy," she said. These comments were made during a discussion about her non-profit organisation, Kindness Wins. The foundation, launched in 2020, aims to promote access to tennis courts and positive character development among young athletes. Keys acknowledged the challenge of staying informed about national issues without letting the turmoil distract her mental focus as a top-level athlete. "Sometimes it's hard to shut it off enough that you don't pull your hair out," she admitted.

"But also not being oblivious to what's going on and the realities of everything. It's definitely difficult at the moment."

Trump has come under fire for a series of controversial policies, from his stern stance on Iran to stringent immigration controls that have sparked nationwide protests. Over 17,200 individuals were deported in April alone, as per the latest statistics from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The US President is also facing intense scrutiny over his dealings with Canada, in addition to his proposed 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' - a move potentially slashing various social programmes whilst carving out new tax reliefs. Meanwhile, Keys' philanthropic efforts are making waves. Her foundation has been busy refurbishing facilities like the JV Morris Tennis Center, reflecting its ever-growing influence in both digital realms and grassroots communities.

In a bid to foster youth development, her #KindnessWinsDay campaign in 2024 granted a £3,600 to the Denton Johnson Tennis Program in Central Florida - just one of many ventures her foundation arms are extending to uplift the nation's children.

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"Tennis has always given me a safe space to grow and find who I am," declared Keys. "I want to make sure that's available for more kids who might not have that opportunity otherwise."

On the tennis court, Keys' talent continues to shine brightly. She is ranked sixth in the world heading into Wimbledon. Keys has reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals twice, first in 2015 and then in 2023, when she was beaten by world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

But it was 2025 that marked a turning point in Keys' career when she triumphed at the Australian Open in January. Toppling giants like Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, Keys clinched her much-deserved maiden Grand Slam title. That victory occurred just weeks after Trump resumed office in January. Regardless of how far she progresses in Wimbledon, Keys remains dedicated to her mission both on and off the court.

A version of this article first appeared on the Mirror US website

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