Madison Keys (L) hugs her coach and husband Bjorn Fratangelo after the women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Madison Keys of the United States at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
MELBOURNE, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- American Madison Keys, 29, lifted her first Grand Slam trophy on Saturday after denying top seed Aryna Sabalenka from becoming the first woman in 26 years to claim three consecutive Australian Open titles.
The 19th seed started and finished strongly to stun Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in a nerve-jangling final lasting two hours and two minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
The American hit 29 winners and prevented Sabalenka from becoming the sixth woman to win a hat-trick of titles at Melbourne Park. Swiss tennis legend Martina Hingis had been the last player to achieve the feat in 1999.
Keys' aggression and bravery to target the corners was rewarded as she capitalized on an unusually patchy performance from Sabalenka.
It completed a renaissance for Keys, whose career breakout was a dazzling semifinal run at Melbourne Park as a teenager in 2015.
She reached her only previous Grand Slam final two years later at the US Open before a period in the wilderness.
"I have wanted this for so long," an emotional Keys said.
"I've been in one other Grand Slam final and didn't know if I was going to be in a position to win another Grand Slam title. But my team believed in me."
It was a bitter disappointment for three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka, who had only dropped one set before the final.
"Even though I didn't win it this year, I'll come back stronger next year," Sabalenka said.
The 26-year-old Sabalenka was heavily favored in the final, but fireworks were expected between two of the biggest hitters in women's tennis.
During her barnstorming run to the final, Keys had showcased tenacity and endurance to battle through four three-set matches.
She had pulled off arguably the biggest win of her career after coming back from a set down and saving a match point in the semifinal to outlast second seed Iga Swiatek.
Keys showed no signs of nerves and applied pressure on Sabalenka's serve with fizzing returns to break in the opening game.
Her strategy of shortening the points rattled Sabalenka as she stepped into her shots with devastating effect.
Sabalenka's service woes from earlier in the tournament reared and she fell behind two breaks after netting a volley.
Keys was on the brink of clinching the first set, but failed to convert a set point in the seventh game before nervously being unable to close it out on her serve.
But Keys regrouped and a sweeping winner down the line sealed the opening set in style.
Sabalenka lifted her intensity to start the second set and aggressively attacked the backhand flank of Keys.
After failing to convert a break point in the opening game, Sabalenka's perseverance cracked Keys' stubborn serve and turned the match on its head.
She reeled off five consecutive games as errors started to spray from Keys' racquet.
Sabalenka continued to press early in the third set, but Keys fended off the barrage as holds of serve were traded across the opening 11 games.
Keys went for broke in the 12th game, attacking Sabalenka's serve to move agonizingly close at 15-40.
After spraying her first match point, Keys sealed the victory in style with a sizzling crosscourt forehand winner before her emotions poured out. ■
(250125) -- MELBOURNE, Jan. 25, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Madison Keys reacts after winning the women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Madison Keys of the United States at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
(250125) -- MELBOURNE, Jan. 25, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Madison Keys hits a return during the women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Madison Keys of the United States at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2025. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
(250125) -- MELBOURNE, Jan. 25, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Aryna Sabalenka (front) and Madison Keys react during the women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Madison Keys of the United States at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
(250125) -- MELBOURNE, Jan. 25, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Aryna Sabalenka hits a return during the women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Madison Keys of the United States at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2025. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
(250125) -- MELBOURNE, Jan. 25, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Aryna Sabalenka reacts after losing the women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Madison Keys of the United States at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
Madison Keys (R) and Aryna Sabalenka pose for photos during the awarding ceremony after the women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Madison Keys of the United States at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
Madison Keys poses with the trophy during the awarding ceremony after the women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Madison Keys of the United States at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2025. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
Madison Keys poses with the trophy during the awarding ceremony after the women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Madison Keys of the United States at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
Aryna Sabalenka reacts during the awarding ceremony after the women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Madison Keys of the United States at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
Madison Keys poses with the trophy during the awarding ceremony after the women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Madison Keys of the United States at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
Aryna Sabalenka reacts during the awarding ceremony after the women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Madison Keys of the United States at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
Madison Keys kisses the trophy during the awarding ceremony after the women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Madison Keys of the United States at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
Madison Keys poses with the trophy during the awarding ceremony after the women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Madison Keys of the United States at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2025. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
Madison Keys poses with the trophy during the awarding ceremony after the women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Madison Keys of the United States at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
