MELBOURNE, Australia – Madison Keys achieved a career-defining moment on Saturday, capturing her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open with a stunning three-set victory over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The 19th-seeded American defied the odds, defeating the two-time defending champion 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in a gripping contest that lasted just over two hours.
At 29, Keys becomes the second-oldest first-time women’s champion at the tournament, following Li Na’s breakthrough win in 2014 at the age of 31.
“I kept telling myself to be brave, go for it, and leave everything on the court,” Keys said in her post-match press conference. “If I did that, no matter the result, I could be proud of myself. That mindset made it a little easier.”
Fast Start for Keys
Keys came out firing, capitalizing on Sabalenka’s early serving struggles. The American broke serve in the opening game, aided by two double faults from Sabalenka, and quickly established a 2-0 lead. While Sabalenka faltered, Keys excelled on serve, landing nearly all her first serves through her first two service games. She broke Sabalenka again to surge ahead 4-1 and later served for the set at 5-3.
Although Sabalenka briefly raised her level with a break of serve, Keys responded immediately. Another costly double fault from Sabalenka—her fourth of the set—gave Keys a crucial break, allowing her to close out the opener 6-3 in just 35 minutes.
Sabalenka’s first-set statistics were uncharacteristically poor, with 13 unforced errors and just four winners. It marked her worst serving performance in Melbourne, setting the stage for a dramatic turnaround attempt.
Sabalenka Strikes Back
Despite the rocky start, Sabalenka had a history of mounting comebacks in Grand Slam matches. Entering the final, she boasted a remarkable 10-1 record when losing the opening set in majors.
After a brief bathroom break, the three-time Grand Slam champion returned re-energized. She quickly held serve and then broke Keys at the third opportunity to seize a 2-0 lead. With renewed aggression, Sabalenka secured another break and surged ahead 4-1 before closing out the set 6-2, forcing a decisive third set.
Keys Seizes the Moment
The final set was a tense battle, with neither player conceding serve through the first 11 games. With a tiebreaker looming, the pivotal moment arrived at 5-6, with Sabalenka serving to stay in the match.
At 0-15, Sabalenka missed a forehand long, then saw Keys blast a stunning backhand return winner, bringing up two championship points. Though she missed the first opportunity, Keys converted on the second with a powerful inside-out forehand winner. She let out a triumphant scream as she clinched her maiden Grand Slam title.
Keys’ path to victory was historic. She won five three-set matches throughout the tournament—the most in a single Australian Open in the Open Era—and defeated four top-10 seeds, including Sabalenka, Danielle Collins, Elena Rybakina, and Iga Swiatek.
The only other woman to achieve this feat was Evonne Goolagong at Wimbledon in 1980, who fittingly presented Keys with the trophy.
A New Mindset Leads to Victory
Reflecting on her breakthrough, Keys credited her mental growth and a fresh perspective on competition. She shared that therapy helped her release the burden of expectations, ultimately allowing her to play more freely.
“I’ve done a lot of work to no longer need [winning a Grand Slam],” she told ESPN. “I really wanted it, but I stopped letting it define me. Letting go of that pressure finally gave me the ability to go for it.”
Meanwhile, Sabalenka acknowledged her struggles in the first set and praised Keys’ relentless attacking play.
“She played super aggressively,” Sabalenka admitted. “Everything seemed to be going her way. I was just trying to keep the ball in play but couldn’t find my rhythm. In the second set, I got it back, but she just played incredible tennis.”
With her victory, Keys joins the elite ranks of Grand Slam champions, marking a defining moment in her career and a potential turning point for future successes.
