After having been the author of a surprising surprise after another at the Australia Open of 2025, the American Madison Keys, head of series number 19, had a last impressive game left, defeating the world No. 1 of the world and twice champion Defender Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6. , 7-5 to win your first important title.
Keys’s remarkable victory on Saturday scored the first Grand Slam title for the 29 -year -old American. It had been eight years since the last time Keys reached an important final when he lost the 2017 US Open, a match in which he said he had insisted for almost a decade since then. His best previous result in the Australia Open was 10 years ago, when he reached the semifinals in 2015.
Keys became the first American woman to win the Australian Open from Sofia Kenin in 2020.
“I wanted this for so long,” Keys said, containing tears, while accepting the championship trophy. “I have been in another Slam final and did not go as I wanted. I didn’t know that I would ever come back … and my team believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.
“Last year it was very hard with some serious injuries and I didn’t know if I could do it again.”
Sabalenka had won the last two open of Australia, in addition to the 2024 United States Open, but Keys kept her stepped on from the moment the game began. Keys broke Sabalenka’s service in the first game and did not look back, taking an eventual 5-1 advantage in the first set. Even after losing service in his first attempt to close the set, Keys was missing the lost opportunity immediately breaking Sabalenka service again.
Keys maintained his service in the first game of the second set and seemed to have a firm control of the game. Sabalenka, however, kept calm and won the next five games, recovering the lost confidence and impulse of the game.
That prepared the stage for a tense third set in which both players kept their service during the first 11 games. Above 6-5, Keys finally fought against Sabalenka’s service to get two championship points. His powerful cross goal in the second gave him his first title. Keys raised his arms and then broke down. When he settled in his seat, he was half crying, half laughing, apparently incredulous of the moment.
“I’m stunned and confused,” he said later.
Using a powerful service and a right -wing blow, Keys made its way along the tournament with a surprise after another, four in total. The American defeated No. 10 Danielle Collins in Sets runs during the third round, before achieving an unexpected victory over No. 6 Elena Rybakina in the fourth round. In the quarterfinals, Keys traced to overcome number 28, Elina Svitolina, after losing the first set. Then, Keys reached the final after surprising the number 2, IgA Swiatek, in the semifinals in an exciting tiebreaker in the third set.
Keys won five games of three sets during the tournament, the largest amount in a single Australian open from the open era. His resilience, perhaps, should not have been a surprise.
Keys became a professional 16 years ago and had a long rise so far, including the fight against injuries last year. His highest previous world classification was number 7, back in 2016. After achieving the most important victory of his career against Sabalenka, he could be on his way to a sudden ascent in 2025.
(Tagstotranslate) Madison Keys