Madison Keys says she and Sloane Stephens will always be friends - irrespective of what happens between the two on the court.

"Sloane and I have been friends for so long - we've had high highs and low lows," said the American in an interview with Shape.

"We always remember that we were friends first and we will be friends in the end. But we both go out there and want to win.

"I think to myself: I'm going to do what I can to win today. We both appreciate that and know that at the end of the day we can walk off the court knowing that we have each other's backs."

Stephens recently beat Keys in the semifinals of the French Open after also defeating her in the final of the US Open last year to claim her first Grand Slam title.

Keys also had advice for up-and-coming tennis players, saying, "Enjoy the ride on the way up because the closer to the top you get, the more stressful it is. Lindsay Davenport told me that. And that has been the biggest thing for me - enjoying the moment and taking pressure off myself; remembering to have fun."

Keys will be hoping to improve on her best result at Wimbledon, the quarterfinals in 2015, when it gets under way on Monday, July 2.