SI Insider: Madison Keys On Kindness In Competition

Madison Keys joined Jon Wertheim on the Beyond The Baseline podcast this week.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Wertheim had tennis player Madison Keys on the Beyond The Baseline podcast this week to talk about kindness in sports, and what she's been up to during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Read below for full video transcript:

This week on the Beyond the Baseline tennis podcast, we have special guest Madison Keys. She is ranked number 13 in the world right now, she is a two time grand slam semifinalist, a one time finalist. We talked to Madison basically about what she is doing during this coronavirus pandemic, how she has been processing these weeks of inactivity. And then we also talk about Kindness Wins, which for several years has really been her cause, her great passion. It's to inspire people to be a little nicer to each other. It takes a stance against online bullying and Madison makes a really interesting point, which is that kindness and competition are not inconsistent. She says one of the things that really gets her upset when people say, oh, you're too nice, you're too nice to win. And she has some very strong thoughts about the role of kindness, not just in society, but in sports and in tennis. And as she puts it, you can be a good person and still be a champion. Good listen. 

Check out more tennis news here from Jon Wertheim:

How the Coronavirus Pandemic Is Impacting College Tennis

Mailbag: Tennis Exhibitions Offer Window into 'Closed Door' Sports Scenario

Mailbag: Are Any Players Benefitting from the Current Tennis Layoff?