She finally has it: at 29, Madison Keys won her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, surprising world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and depriving her of a third consecutive title, unprecedented in the 21st century.
On the court of a packed and molten Rod Laver Arena during the 3rd set, the tightest of the match, the American screamed in surprise on the match point, raising her arms to the sky before shedding a few tears and fall into the arms of loved ones. Defeated 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, Sabalenka congratulated her opponent before smashing her racket in annoyance and burying her face in her towel on her bench. Like her compatriot Victoria Azarenka, winner in 2012 and 2013, the Belarusian failed on Saturday to become the sixth woman in history to achieve the pass of three in Melbourne. Her opponent became the fourth oldest player in the Open era (which began in 1968) to win her first major title. Great hope of American Tennis, winner of her first match on the WTA circuit at barely 14 years old, Madison Keys completely missed out on her first Grand Slam final, losing 6-3, 6-0 in the US final. Open 2017 by her compatriot Sloane Stephens. In Australia, Keys did not miss her second chance, beating Sabalenka two days after having already eliminated her runner-up Iga Swiatek after a 2h35 fight won in the super tie-break. “I’ve wanted this title for so long“, said the right-hander from Illinois while receiving the trophy. After the lost US Open final, “I didn’t know if I was going to be in position again” to win a Grand Slam, she added.
“See you again next year”
Defeated four times in her five previous duels with the triple Grand Slam winner (Australian Open 2023 and 2024, US Open 2024), the American did not, however, leave with the favor of the forecasts. For a time, she even thought she was reliving her painful 2023 semi-final at the US Open, where she won the first set 6-0 against Sabalenka before narrowly losing the next two in the tie-break. But this time the outcome was different, thanks to a decisive break in the final round. “Glad to have finally taken my revenge“, slipped Keys to Sabalenka who congratulated her on her victory”deserved“. “I hope we see each other again next year“, joked the Belarusian, fixing her gaze on the trophy reserved for the winner. As in the semi-final against her friend Paula Badosa (12th), Sabalenka took time to get into the game. But where she had not let slip only two games against the Spaniard before recovering, the eclipse this time was much longer.
After starting the match with a double fault, the Belarusian committed three more in the first set alone to offer as many break points to Keys, who was quick to convert them and win the opening set 6-3 . Having gone to the locker room at the end of the first act for a toilet break, Sabalenka returned to the court clearly more conquering. In the first game, she got two break points, dismissed by Keys. A simple reprieve since two games later, the world No.1 managed to snatch the break to take control of the set, which she won 6-2. The third set was the most balanced of the match, with each of the two players maintaining their lead until 6-5 for Keys. The American then managed to get two break points on Sabalenka’s serve, converting the second to finally secure her place among the winners of one of the four major world tennis tournaments.
