Madison Keys Splits With Davenport
Madison Keys’ highly-touted partnership with Lindsay Davenport and Lisa Raymond won’t continue into the 2016 season. Keys’ agent confirmed the split to WTA Insider on Wednesday.
Keys is now working with former ATP player Jesse Levine in Boca Raton, Florida. She will continue to work with her trainer Scott Byrnes and will add a traveling physio for the new season.
Keys and Davenport began working together during the 2014 off-season and what was meant to be an off-season training session turned into a more robust partnership in 2015. With Davenport at the helm, Keys made her first Slam semifinal at the Australian Open and made the second week at three of the four majors, including the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. She also made her second Premier final at the Family Circle Cup, finishing the season at No.18.
Due to her family and commentating responsibilities, Davenport was unable to travel full-time with Keys. Those responsibilities were spread out between Davenport, her husband Jon Leach, and Raymond. Keys’ agent told WTA Insider that discussions with Davenport about her role in 2016 began after the US Open but no final decisions were made until after the season ended.
Keys and Levine know each other well. Levine hit with Keys before her run to the final in Charleston and the hope is that his work ethic and positive energy, combined with his quality as a consistent hitting partner, will help the 20-year-old American continue to develop her game.