The quest of a hat-trick wasn’t to be for world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka as USA’s Madison Keys capped off a stunning week to win her first Grand Slam. Keys prevailed 6-3 2-6 7-5 victory in a thrilling final on Saturday to end Sabalenka’s winning streak in Melbourne, where she was the two-time defending champion coming into the title clash.
Keys, who was a match point down against second seed Iga Swiatek in the semifinal, became the first player since Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2009 to beat the world No 1 and world No 2 enroute to a Grand Slam title.
Keys had broken down in tears after the US Open semifinal in 2023 when she had lost in three sets against Sabalenka. Just over a year later, she ended a long wait for her first Major, having previously reached the US Open final in 2017 when she had lost to Sloane Stephens. It was Keys’ 46th appearance in the main draw of a Grand slam. Only Flavia Pennetta (49), Goran Ivanisevic (48) and Marion Bartoli (47) in the Open Era have appeared in more main draws to win their first Singles Grand Slam title than the American, according to Opta.
The 29-year-old also became the fourth-oldest first-time Grand Slam champion in the professional era after Flavia Pennetta, Ann Jones and Francesca Schiavone, and her win ended Sabalenka’s bid for a third straight Melbourne Park crown.
According to Opta, Keys is also the first player in the Open Era to win the title at the Australian Open with only three-setters from the Fourth Round to the final.
Watch the winning moment here:
The Keys to victory!@Madison_keys caps an incredible fortnight with a breakthrough Grand Slam title!
She beats Collins, Rybakina, Svitolina, Swiatek and Sabalenka to claim the crown.@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/p2RdID6JQc
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2025
Sabalenka made a couple of double faults to drop serve in the opening game and looked off colour in the early exchanges as the free-hitting Keys heaped pressure on the top seed with a dipping crosscourt winner en route to a double break.
The American 19th seed rode her luck after a net cord winner and went up 5-1 in 20 minutes before conceding a break with a wayward backhand before Sabalenka gifted her set point with a fourth double fault.
Keys, who was hitting much harder than her opponent on both flanks, fired her 11th winner with a backhand down the line to clinch the opening set but Sabalenka began to mix up her game in the next set and sliced her way through to level the match.
Both players relied on their powerful serves and shot-making to remain level until 5-5 in the decider but there was one final momentum shift as Keys produced some blistering winners to claim the next two games and the biggest triumph of her career.
(With Reuters inputs)
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