Melbourne: Australian Open gets new champion after America's Madison Keys overcame the world no. 1 Aryna Sabalenka's challenge in the final and clinched her first-ever Grand Slam at the Rod Laver Arena on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Madison Keys beat Keys by 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in a match that stretched for 2 hours and 2 minutes.
Keys fulfilled her Grand Slam dream as she became the first player to deny the world’s top two-ranked women at a major since Svetlana Kuznetsova at Roland Garros 2009 and the first at the Australian Open since Serena Williams in 2005.
MADI’S MAIDEN MAJOR UNLOCKED 🔓 🏆#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/fwDSauL0Gb
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2025
Keys, the US Open 2017 runner-up, is the first woman seeded 19th to reach a Grand Slam final in the Open era. In the process, she equalled AO 2018 champion Caroline Wozniacki as the player with the most appearances at the AO (11) before reaching her first final.
MADISON KEYS, YOU ARE A GRAND SLAM CHAMPION 👑@Madison_Keys #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/pWNmXHtcfJ
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2025
Keys, who turns 30 in a little over three weeks, is the fourth-oldest first-time major champion behind Flavia Pennetta, who was 33 when she earned the 2015 US Open crown, Ann Jones, who was 30 when she won Wimbledon in 1969, and Francesca Schiavone, who was almost 30 when she won Roland Garros in 2010.
🎶 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 🎶@Madison_Keys #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/lf8fMcz8I4
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2025
Only two players have required more appearances to win their maiden Grand Slam singles title during the Open Era than Keys. They are Flavia Pennetta (49) and Marion Bartoli (47). This was the 46th Grand Slam appearance of Keys' career, and only her second ever major final don't forget - eight years after her first.
Keys' journey in the ongoing competition has nothing short of resilience and sheer determination. She has been able to create some big upsets along her way to the final, starting with Elena Rybakina in the 4th round, followed by Elina Svitolina in the 3rd, before she pulled off a stunning performance to defeat the second-seeded Iga Swiatek in the semi-final. The American was a set down against Swiatek before emerging triumphant in the match 5-7, 6-1, 7-6.
The American 19th seed showed no fear, attacking the Belarusian from the start and breaking her serve three times to win the first set in little time. Sabalenka was aiming to win a third Australian Open title in a row and, after an error-strewn first set, showed her champion spirit to battle back with powerful groundstrokes to take the second set 6-2. Both tennis professionals fought hard as the game was tied at 5-5. However, the American rose up on the occasion, winning both next two sets and won the summit clash.
"You have fought hard throughout the tournament to get the trophy. Congrats to you and your team. I will come back stronger and will try again next year," said Sabalenka who finished runner-up after the summit match.
