The 29 -year -old American will play a new Grand Chelem final in front of Aryna Sabalent, seven years after her first she had lost.
In the form of his life
Just before this Australian Open, the American had won the very high ATP 500 Adelaide, dominating solid players like Beatriz Haddad Maia, Jelena Ostapenko, Daria Kasatkina, Liudmila Samsonova or Jessica Pegula. His ninth career title. In Melbourne Park, the seeded 19 (14th world) tamed Danielle Collins, Elena Rybakina and Elina Svitolina, before achieving the feat of offering herself Scalp of Iga Swiatek, in the semi-finals (5-7, 6 -1, 7-6 (10-8 at the Super Tie-Break) in 2 h 36. An authentic feat because until then the Polish had given only 14 games to her opponents. “I don't remember having saved a match ball!” The third set was such a fight of nerves. It was a blackout, I was running in all directions. But I am in the final. “
In the final of a great slam eight years later
Since her defeat in New York, seven years ago, facing his compatriot Sloan Stephens (6-3, 6-0), she was often upset in major meetings. “One of the greatest lessons that I can probably learn from this final is to know that I will probably feel uncomfortable 99% of the time I will spend on the court, but that is not severe. I can still play tennis despite this ”. Before her final in Melbourne, she had reached the semi-finals of major tournaments on four times: once in Roland Garros (2018), twice at the US Open (2017 and 2023) and Melbourne (2015) and N 'had won only one of these matches. The most recent of his defeats, against… Aryna Sabalenka in New York in 2023, was very hard to collect. Keys won the first 6-0 set and served for the match, and then lost the second and third set during the Tie-Breaks. “This one, I took a while to get back and turn the page”she admitted at a press conference, before finding a player who beat her four times in five confrontations.
A hope that has disappointed
At the age of 14, the native of rock Island (Illinois) had eliminated the 81st world player and had become the 7th younger winner of a WTA level match in the history of the game. Semi-finalist for the first time In Melbourne, 10 years ago at 19, this big fan of Venus Williams had been announced as one of the main success of the Williams sisters, in the company of Sloane Stephens. The latter and Keys clashed in the 2017 US Open final. The rest was less brilliant for the two Americans, “Ringardized” By the emergence of Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff could still Emma Navarro. At 29, Keys found the keys to success to compete in a new final of a Grand Colam, seven years and 138 days after New York…
-Renewal keys
In 2016, she was 7th in the world. Its best ranking to date. She will get closer because she is guaranteed to be at least 8th after the Australian Open. Between frustrating defeats in the major meeting and recurring injuries, she has mainly sailed between the 10th and 20th place in recent years. It has made significant changes in recent months. “The main objective of this offseason was to convince me that I was ready to try everything, to do anything, to be opened at that time in my career. It was liberating because for a very long time, I had the impression that I was so close to doing things in a certain way, but I could not reach my goals. »»
She believes that the click is due in part to her change of racket.
She married her trainer
And to love? On November 26, Madison Keys and Bjorn Futengelo said « oui ». The players Jessica Pegula, Jennifer Brady or Taylor Townsend were one of the guests. The couple had announced their engagement in March 2023. aged 29 and 31, Keys and Fratangelo have been together since 2017. Former 99th world player in 2016, Bjorn Fratangelo has put their career aside, at only 30 years old, and is now the Coach of the Australian Open finalist. They have evolved together a few times in mixed double at the US Open. A winning tandem.
