‘It was never if, just when’ – Keys’ journey to Slam glory

Madison Keys was unable to hold back her tears when she lost to Aryna Sabalenka at a Grand Slam.

In the 2023 US Open semi-finals, Keys served for the match at 5-4 in the second set.

But Sabalenka fought back, winning the tie-breaks in the second and third sets to advance and leave Keys with many regrets.

The sobbing Keys remarked, “I think it’s really possible to turn this into a positive.”

Now, 16 months later, possibility has turned into reality. Sabalenka defeated the American in the final to claim her first major title at the Australian Open, handing the American the victory.

Her victory comes less than seven years after she suffered a severe defeat in Sloane Stephens’ 2017 US Open final.

But she has overcome her difficulties. Keys, who turns 30 next month, beat three top-10 players on her way to the Melbourne title, looking composed and clutch in the key moments.

Keys, who defeated top seed Jessica Pegula to win the previous week’s Adelaide International title, returned to action at the Australian Open in top form.

In the semi-finals, she defeated top seed Sabalenka on Saturday, saving a match point against second-seeded, five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.

The first player to defeat the world’s top two in a major title fight is Svetlana Kuznetsova at the 2009 French Open.

Given her 2024 injury issues, Keys’ success is all the more impressive.

The 29-year-old suffered a shoulder injury that prevented her Wimbledon run in the fourth round, which put an end to her previous year’s Australian Open.

On the advice of her coach and her now-husband, Bjorn Fratangelo, Keys made the decision to change. She was determined to keep competing.

Fratangelo persuaded her to switch from her Wilson racquets to Yonex, a move he believed would reduce her injuries.

“I have no idea why I like this racquet, what it does, like, all the specifics of it. I just knew when I picked it up, it felt really good, and that was the winner”, Keys told Bounces on Tuesday.

And just before the pair got married in November, Fratangelo dragged a “kicking and screaming” Keys into reworking her service motion.

In 2015, Keys reached the Australian Open semi-finals as a 19-year-old.

With a powerful serve and big-hitting forehand, she was often compared with 23-time major singles winner Serena Williams.

Keys has won nine WTA Tour titles and consistently advanced to the top of his majors, reaching six semi-finals before reaching the Melbourne final.

She described the advantages of therapy for easing her stress after receiving the trophy.

“I had done it before, but it had always been too sports-specific”, Keys said.

“I finally got to the point where I was personally low enough that I was like, I don’t really care if this]therapy] helps me perform, I just want to feel better.

One of the many players to express congratulations to Keys, a well-known locker room player, was Stephens.

” It was never if, just when. You deserve this and beyond, “Stephens said on X.

Former men’s singles Wimbledon champion Pat Cash told BBC Radio 5 Live:” It is a case of potential fulfilled, isn’t it?

Everyone predicted that Madison Keys would win a lot of Grand Slams and be a part of the pack when she first appeared at the Australian Open.