Keys Stuns Sabalenka In Thriller To Win Australian Open

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Madison Keys, a 29-year-old underdog, defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in the Australian Open final on Saturday to claim her first Grand Slam.

The American put an end to Sabalenka’s dream to become the first woman to win a third successive Melbourne Park singles title after 26 years.

Keys yelled in joy and shed all tears as the Belarusian two-time defending champion fought back to earn the title.

Sabalenka, the 2023 and 2024 champion, buried her head in a towel after her 20-match win streak at Melbourne Park was ended.

Madison Keys of the USA celebrates her victory over Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne on January 25, 2025. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) &nbsp,

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus addresses the podium following her defeat on January 25, 2025, against Madison Keys of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP)

Madison Keys, USA, defeated Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s singles final match on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis competition in Melbourne on January 25, 2025, to celebrate with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP)

It marked the culmination of Keys’ 15-year journey from teen prodigy to major winner, according to the 19th-seeded student.

The emotional Keys, whose husband’s coach is also her husband, said, “I have been wanting this for so long and I have been in one other Grand Slam final and it did not work out.”

“I didn’t know if I would ever regain my composure in order to try to win a trophy once more,” he said.

Madison Keys (R) of the USA and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus (L) pose for pictures on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne on January 25, 2025. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP) /

Madison Keys (R) of the USA hugs Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus after winning the Australian Open tennis championship’s women’s singles match on day fourteen on January 25, 2025. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)

After winning her first WTA Tour match at the age of 14, the American was touted as the next world number one.

She made her first major semi-final at Melbourne Park 10 years ago as a 19-year-old, but a decade on she can finally call herself a Grand Slam champion.

“I made my very first Grand Slam semi-final here in Melbourne”, said Keys, the runner-up at the US Open in in 2017.

It means the absolute world to me to have won my first Grand Slam in the same location.

My entire team had faith in me. Keys, who will now rank seventh in her career, surpassing her previous ninth-place finish, “thank you very much,” added Keys.

” They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, and helped me every step of the way. Last year was so tough, with some really bad injuries, I didn’t know if I was gonna be able to do it again. “

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus sat after her defeat to Madison Keys of the United States on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne on January 25, 2025. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts to Madison Keys’ defeat in the women’s singles final match on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis competition in Melbourne on January 25, 2025, during a press conference. IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)

What a tournament, exactly?

Keys becomes the fourth-oldest first-time major champion since 1968’s Open Era started.

After suffering its first defeat at Melbourne since 2022, Sabalenka was gracious.

” First of all, Madison, what a tournament. You’ve been working really hard to win this trophy, Sabolenka said.

When I’m here, I really feel like I’m home, and I’ll come back stronger and perform at my best next year.

In 35 minutes on Rod Laver Arena, Keys came out of the blocks and played excellent tennis to put Sabalenka under pressure and win the first set.

In the second set, the Belarusian began to change the script, breaking in the third game, and leading 3-1.

After an hour and 20 minutes on the court, Sabalenka leveled the match with a brilliant cross-court pass that followed.

The 26-year-old Sabalenka by now was timing the ball much better and&nbsp, a younger Keys might have buckled.

But this mature version of Keys, who battled all the way to beat Iga Swiatek in a 10-point final-set tiebreak in the semi-finals, is made of sterner stuff.

At 5-6 when Sabalenka served to take it to another final-set tiebreak, Keys brought up two match points.