Madison Keys wins her first Grand Slam by ending Aryna Sabalenka’s hopes of a third straight Australian Open title.
Madison Keys arrived in Australia under the radar and with the modest goal of seeing how well she could perform with her 30th birthday looming next month.
The resilient American now has the answer after defeating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in three sets in Saturday’s Australian Open final.
It is Keys’s first major title, having reached a second Grand Slam final eight years after her first in New York. She lost on that occasion to Sloane Stephens.
That 6-3, 6-0 loss has rankled ever since, but it was also a learning experience.
“I think during that match I was so consumed with being nervous and the moment and the opportunity and all of that, that I never really gave myself a chance to actually play,” she said this week.
“I think the big thing for me has just been knowing that there are going to be a lot of moments where I’m uncomfortable in the match.
“It’s going to be stressful. You have thousands of people watching you.”
Now ranked 14, Keys will return to the top 10 for the first time since 2019 next week.
