Madison Keys wins first Grand Slam title at Australian Open

Madison Keys upset world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in a thrilling Australian Open final on Saturday, clinching her first Grand Slam title at the age of 29.

The victory ended Sabalenka’s dream of becoming the first woman in 26 years to win three consecutive singles titles at Melbourne Park. Keys, seeded 19th, held her nerve to overcome a fierce fightback from the Belarusian two-time defending champion, bringing Sabalenka’s 20-match win streak at the tournament to a halt.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Keys yelled in delight and wiped away tears after securing the win, marking the culmination of a 15-year journey from teenage prodigy to Grand Slam champion. Meanwhile, Sabalenka, the 2023 and 2024 champion, buried her head in a towel, visibly heartbroken by the defeat.

“I have wanted this for so long,” said an emotional Keys. “I’ve been in one other Grand Slam final, and it didn’t go my way. I didn’t know if I was ever going to get back to this position to try to win a trophy again.”

Keys first burst onto the tennis scene as a 14-year-old, winning her maiden WTA match and being hailed as a future world number one. She reached her first major semifinal at Melbourne Park 10 years ago but had to wait another decade to fulfill her Grand Slam dream.

“I made my very first Grand Slam semi-final here in Melbourne,” Keys reflected. “So to now have won my first Grand Slam in the same place means the absolute world to me.”

Keys credited her team, including her coach and husband, Bjorn Fratangelo, for their unwavering support through her journey. “They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself and helped me every step of the way. Last year was so tough, with some really bad injuries. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to do it again.”

With the victory, Keys becomes the fourth-oldest first-time Grand Slam winner in the Open Era and will return to a career-high ranking of seventh in the world.

Sabalenka, gracious in defeat, praised her opponent during the trophy presentation. “First of all, Madison, what a tournament. You’ve been fighting really hard to get this trophy,” she said. “I really feel like it’s home when I’m here, and I’ll come back stronger and do my best next year.”

The win solidifies Keys’ legacy as a Grand Slam champion and adds another chapter to her remarkable career.