The American tennis star Madison Keys bothered Aryna Sabalenka to win the Australian Open on Saturday.
Keys, 29, won 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in the game very disputed to win its first Grand Slam tournament.
Keys ended with only one more earned point than Sabalenka in general, winning 92 points, compared to the 91 of Sabalenka.
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Madison Keys, center, of the United States reacts when he receives the Daphne Akhursst Memorial Cup from Evonne Golagong Cawley after defeating Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the final of Singles female in the Tennis Championship of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, the Saturday, January 25, 2025. (AP Photo/NG Han Guan)
Sabalenka was trying to win her third consecutive Australian open, something that was last achieved by Martina Hingis, from 1997 to 1999.
This was the second time in the Keys race that had the opportunity for an important title, its last was a 6-3 defeat, 6-0 against compatriot Sloane Stephens at the US 2017 Open.
Keys had high expectations for herself in her tennis career, but began accepting the fact that she could never win a Grand Slam title.
“From a fairly early age, I felt that if I never won a Grand Slam, then I would not have lived up to what people thought it should have been. That was a fairly heavy burden to carry out,” Keys said.
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Madison Keys of the United States reacts during his final female singles match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarusia in the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday, January 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
“So I finally reached the point where I was proud of myself and proud of my career, with or without a great blow. I finally reached the point where it was fine if it did not need. I did not need it. Feel that I had a good career or I deserved to talk to me as a great tennis player.
“I feel that finally putting aside that kind of internal talk that had just given me the ability to leave and play a really good tennis to win a Grand Slam.”
Keys not only bothered Sabalenka classified No.1, but also eliminated No. 2 IGA świątek in the semifinals on the way to his victory in the title of the Australian Open.
Keys was the first woman from Serena Williams in 2005 to defeat the two best WTA players in Melbourne Park. She said that beating Swiatek gave her the confidence she could win against Sabalenka.
Madison Keys of the United States speaks during a press conference after defeating Aryna Sabalenka of Belarusia in the final of Singles female in the Tennis Championship of the Australian Open to win the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, January 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
“Winning that game The other night against IgA was really a great obstacle,” Keys said. “I always thought I could do it, but to do it that way, I really thought for myself after the game that I can win absolutely on Saturday.”
This was the appearance of Keys 46th Slam, the third one before winning a female main title, being only 49 of Flavia Pennetta and the 47 appearances of Marion Bartoli before winning.
“I didn’t always think I could return to this point. But to be able to do it and win, it means the world for me.”
