Nineteenth seed Madison Keys pulled off a shocking upset, dethroning two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka with an exciting 6-3 2-6 7-5 victory within the Australian Open last. It was heartbreak for Sabalenka and sheer tears of pleasure for Keys in a match to recollect!
After simply 17 minutes of play, Keys established a commanding double-break lead at 4-1. She maintained her dominance with a love maintain and even secured a set level on Sabalenka’s serve within the subsequent sport. Though the Belarusian briefly rallied, managing to remain within the set a bit longer with a break of her personal, Keys finally closed out the set in 35 minutes with a decisive winner, 6-3. Within the opening set, Sabalenka managed solely 4 winners in comparison with Keys’ 11 and dedicated 13 unforced errors, three greater than her opponent.
Sabalenka improved her first-serve proportion as her opponent’s numbers in that space declined considerably. Regrouping within the second set, she surged to a commanding 5-1 lead—mirroring the deficit she confronted within the first set. After 45 minutes of play, Sabalenka capitalized on her third set level when Keys narrowly despatched a forehand lengthy, securing the set 6-2.
The third set become an intense battle, staying on serve till Keys led 6-5. At that time, she earned two break factors and championship factors, seizing her alternative on the second with a decisive winner to say her first main title in her second Grand Slam last.
The American’s path to the title was nothing wanting outstanding. She defeated Ann Li within the first spherical, Elena-Gabriela Ruse within the second, tenth seed Danielle Collins within the third, former Wimbledon champion and sixth seed Elena Rybakina within the fourth, twenty eighth seed Elina Svitolina within the quarterfinals, five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek within the semifinals, and finally dethroned world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka within the last.
Keys’ successful tools: the Nike Spring Melbourne Gown and Yonex EZONE 98 (2025) tennis racquet.
