The magnificent Madison Keys burst Aryna Sabalenka’s bubble and dissolved into tears of joy after claiming her first Grand Slam crown with a stirring three-set triumph at the Australian Open over the two-time defending champion.
However, host broadcaster Channel hit her with another in an escalating series of errors, nine minutes into the life-changing victory.
Sabalenka was a heavy favorite to become the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to complete a hat-trick for the Open title at Melbourne Park.
Instead, Keys, 29, became the oldest Grand Slam champion in a decade with a rollercoaster 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 victory at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night. evening.
She couldn’t contain her joy after breaking Sabalenka’s serve to take the title, as the Belarusian greeted her warmly at the net and then shocked the crowd by shattering her racket on the court.
The number one seed then sat devastated with a towel over her head to hide her face before abruptly leaving the court to calm down.
Madison Keys reacts with unbridled joy after claiming her first Grand Slam victory by beating Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set thriller on Rod Laver Arena.

The world No. 1, on the other hand, could not contain her anger and frustration after coming agonizingly close to winning a hat-trick of Australian Open titles.

The Belarusian separated from the crowd by covering her head with a towel before abruptly leaving the court and then returning to deliver a heartfelt and funny speech to the crowd.
After the trophy presentation, which saw Keys’ husband and coach Bjorn Fratangelo burst into tears upon receiving his own award, the 19th place finisher was ambushed by a very nasty question from Channel Nine star James Bracey.
The host broadcaster has been heavily criticized for failed attempts at humor that left stars angry or confused during the tournament, from Tony Jones paving the way for Novak Djokovic’s surprising interview boycott, to Roger Rasheed surprising Ben Shelton with a joke that backfired.
Shelton later criticized the “disrespectful announcer,” saying the treatment the players received left him “a little surprised.”
Bracey took the risk of adding more when she surprised Keys with an unpleasant question about her husband.
‘You and Bjorn got married in November. You described it as the best weekend of your life. He can’t hear us now. How does that (the victory) compare?’ asked.
“Nooo,” Keys said, sounding bewildered. “It was still the best weekend.”
‘Correct answer!’ Bracey responded.
She also received a sarcastic “thank you” from Keys when she informed her that “no woman has lost more games on the way to the title than you.”
Keys, a precocious junior talent who arrived on the professional scene when he was 14, had been tipped as a future superstar.
However, until now the American had never taken advantage of her immense potential.

Keys was blindsided by a very nasty question from Channel Nine star James Bracey (pictured together) while on the cusp of her stunning win.

Nine has come under a lot of criticism for its failed attempts at humor during this year’s tournament – Tony Jones apologized to Novak Djokovic after a joke gone wrong saw the Serbs ambush fans and Open bosses with a boycott in an interview.

Men’s semi-finalist Ben Shelton said he was “shocked” by Nine’s “disrespectful” treatment of some players.
Keys, set to return to a career-high No. 7 in the world after her long-awaited breakthrough, Keys is the oldest woman to claim her first major since Flavia Pennetta, 33, denied her Serena Williams a grand slam in a calendar year in 2015. US Open.
The historic and emotionally charged victory atoned for Keys’ desperate US Open semi-final loss to Sabelenka in 2023 after she won the first set 6-0 and then served for the match.
But while Keys rejoiced, Sabalenka earned an unwanted place in tennis history as the third female world No. 1 in the 57-year professional tennis era to lose a Grand Slam final to an opponent ranked outside the top. 10.
Sabalenka had an eager start to the match, committing two double faults in the first game to give Keys the first break.
After a nervous wreck in her only previous Grand Slam final, which ended in a crushing 6-3, 6-0 loss to Sloane Stephens at the 2017 US Open, Keys played fearlessly on this occasion.
She earned a second break after another error-plagued fifth game from Sabalenka before holding serve to take a 5-1 lead.
Keys, showing the tension for the first time, failed to serve in the first set at 5-2, unleashing a pair of wild forehands and backhands to offer Sabalenka an opening.
But the Belarusian couldn’t take it, double faulting for a fourth return to give Keys a set point before the world number 14 clinched it with a booming backhand winner.
Both players reached the 2025 final undefeated after Sabalenka opened the year with a win at the season-opening Brisbane International before Keys reigned supreme in Adelaide.

Bracey’s question about Keys’ wedding to husband Bjorn Fratangelo (pictured together after her Open win) prompted a disappointed reaction from the champion.

Keys refused to weaken under immense pressure as she and Sabalenka went game by game in the final set, before turning on the afterburners to break her opponent for the victory.
Something had to give, and it was Sabalenka who couldn’t handle the pressure under the bright lights of Melbourne.
The 26-year-old had two break chances in the first game of the second set, but failed again.
The top seed finally began to turn the tide after holding at 1-1, then upped the ante to break Keys twice and move ahead 5-1.
The title match was once again tied when Sabalenka served to win the second set after an hour and 20 minutes of daring first-hit tennis.
The third set was a thriller, filled with tension as neither combatant gave an inch until Keys achieved a decisive break in the twelfth game to seal the victory after two hours and two minutes.
Keys saved match points in the semifinal against world No. 2 Iga Swiatek and claimed the trophy with a five-match winning streak over seeds.
She also defeated world No. 10 Danielle Collins, sixth seed Elena Rybakina and No. 28 Elina Svitolina.
“Wow, Madison, what a tournament,” said a kind Sabalenka.
“You have been fighting very hard to get this trophy and you got it tonight.
“Congratulations to you and your team, really well deserved and enjoy the celebration, the really fun part.”