Tennis Star Madison Keys on Her Pre-Match Rituals, Beauty Mishaps and More

Madison Keys is soaking it all in.

The tennis star, 30, was announced as Brilliant Earth‘s first athlete brand ambassador the same week she returned to the U.S. Open in New York City.

On Thursday, Aug. 21, the sustainability-focused fine jewelry brand unveiled a limited edition medallion necklace with several meaningful nods to Keys’ journey. One side of the 14k gold medallion features embossed charms: a horseshoe, sun, moon, heart and key. The other side has a racket motif, a pavé diamond lucky clover and nine diamonds along the outer edge. 

“The nine diamonds around the face are because nine is my favorite number, and it’s always kind of been my lucky number,” she tells PEOPLE. “On the back, it’s kind of all of my little charms or things that mean the most to me. And then the basket weave is a symbol of tennis strings.”

“It’s like all of the little pieces that mean a lot to me that have kind of helped me get through my journey,” she explains. 

Keys, who has won ten career singles titles, caught up with PEOPLE ahead of the US Open (where she lost in a first-round upset to Renata Zarazúa) to chat about everything from her career highs to her necklace layering hack.

Last Piece of Jewelry I Put on

My new Brilliant Earth medallion. [Layering necklaces] is kind of a science. I have found that having different lengths and textures is important. So I have a thicker herringbone, and then I have a tennis necklace, and then my medallion is on the chain and it’s a little bit longer. I’ve found if you have two chains that are very similar, those are the ones that are going to twist around each other.

Last Piece of Advice I Received and Loved

Enjoy the journey. I’ve been really trying to be conscious of, even in tough moments or tough tournaments, trying to find the little things that I loved that I got to do, the people I got to spend it with. Just focus on that because those are the things that actually really matter.

Last Trend I Tried and Loved

I got into azelaic acid, which I was very scared of for a really long time. But I found one that I love and it has become my ride or die product. I feel like when the word acid is in it, you’re like, “is it another active ingredient?” “Do I need to be scared of it?” But finally tried it and told all of my friends, “you need to buy this. It’ll change your life.”

Last Trend I Tried That Did Not Work for Me

I really tried to get into the Gen Z high socks. I don’t think it’s for me. It freaks me out to see a sock. The millennial in me is like, “you’re not supposed to have socks be seen ever.” It always looks a little off. I feel like I’m trying too hard. I’m back to no-show.

Last Perfect Day I Had

Probably yesterday. I got to sleep in my own bed, which was wonderful. I got to wake up and have a slower morning because I didn’t practice until later, so I got to make my coffee and have breakfast and just kind of hang out with my husband at home for a little bit before the day got a lot more hectic. Those days are few and far between, so when I have a moment where I get to just slow down and have a long morning at home, it’s the perfect day.

Last Thing I Do Before I Step on the Court

I’m usually going through the list of things that I’m wanting to do and focus on in the match. And then the last thing that I do right before I step out is just try to take a deep breath. As I’ve gotten older in my career, I just kind of take in that I’m not going to have that many more moments where I get to step out onto a court and there’s going to be hundreds of people out there excited to watch me.

Last Time I Suffered for Beauty

I got my legs waxed literally one time. Because I was like, “Oh, it’s supposed to last longer than shaving.” No, not for me. I’ll shave. I wouldn’t recommend it. Zero out of five stars.

Last Time I Felt Spectacular

It was actually a few hours ago. I landed in New York and was at baggage claim and these two kids came up to me. They were so excited, but they were really shy, so their dad asked if they could take a picture with me and it was just the cutest and sweetest. I love those moments.