Madison Keys has been swinging racquets since the age of 4. But her love for the game has an intriguing story attached to it. While both Serena and Venus Williams played an incredible role in intriguing many young athletes’ interest in tennis, Keys’ father, Rick Keys, who is an attorney, and was also a Division III All-American college basketball player recalled how Venus Williams made her daughter take up tennis as a kid.

He revealed about the good old days when Madison would try to hit “home runs” into the adjacent yard and emulate her idol, Williams. Keys was deeply affected by Venus Williams’ persona on and off the court. Not only did she want to play tennis, but she wanted to do it in style, just like Venus Williams.

When Madison Key saw Williams play in Wimbledon wearing a stylish dress on television, she instantly fell in love with the dress. In an interview with the New York Times in 2011, Rick Keys revealed, “She liked dresses, and she wanted one.” But her parents had a condition. They told her that if she started playing tennis, they would buy her a tennis dress. And soon enough, her love for the game began. “All she did was try to hit balls into the next yard—home runs,” Keys’ father said, who played basketball during his college days.

Currently ranked 20, Madison Keys later admitted that she now has a closet full of tennis dresses. And why not? Her incredible amount of achievements speaks for themselves. When she turned professional at just 14 years old, she made history by becoming the seventh youngest player to win a main draw match at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Not only that, she also played her first Grand Slam in the U.S. Open at just 16 years old. Known for her fast serve, the 29-year-old has won ‌seven WTA tour tournaments in her career.

However, whenever she is asked about her inspiration, the answer is always clear. It is Venus Williams’ iconic style on and off the court. While Williams became interested in tennis, her parents encouraged her to pursue the sport as a professional career.

“We both had to make sacrifices,” says Madison Keys’ father

Both her parents, Rick and Christine Keys, are attorneys and have never played tennis. But when it came to supporting their daughter, they both served as incredible mentors to Madison Keys. During the interview, Keys’ father admitted, “We both had to make sacrifices and take on significant roles to make it work.” However, even amid various struggles, they managed to send Keys to Evert Academy to train in tennis.

And referring to that, Rick Keys further added, “The bottom line is that this would not have happened if we couldn’t afford it.” Now that she is making her place in the tennis arena, Madison Keys maintains a strong bond with her parents, who frequently come to visit her.

As Keys progresses towards her journey to success, it is not only Venus Williams that she draws her inspiration from. She also remembers her parents’ incredible contribution to pushing her to achieve her dream.