Madison Keys Wins First Grand Slam Title at Australian Open
Underdog Victory
Madison Keys, the 19th-seeded American, upset Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 1, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in the Australian Open final to win her first Grand Slam crown at the age of 29.
15-Year Journey
For Keys, it was the culmination of a 15-year journey from teenage prodigy to major winner. She had been tipped as a future world No 1 after winning her maiden WTA Tour match at the age of 14. She made her first major semifinal at Melbourne Park 10 years ago as a 19-year-old, but a decade on, she can finally call herself a Grand Slam champion.
Keys’ Dominant Performance
Keys came out of the blocks in controlled fashion in just her second Grand Slam final. She was playing with her left thigh strapped but was not hampered as she played exemplary tennis to put Sabalenka under pressure. With the help of two Sabalenka double faults, Keys secured an immediate break. Sabalenka could not make any inroads on Keys, who landed 86% of her first serves in the set.
Sabalenka’s Fightback
Sabalenka, renowned for her guts and determination, had similarly lost the first set in the 2023 final against Elena Rybakina before going on to win. Perhaps more significantly, Sabalenka had lost the first set 6-0 to Keys in the 2023 US Open semifinal before fighting back to reach the final. That result may have been preying on both players’ minds as the Belarusian began to flip the script in the second set, breaking in the third game and moving ahead 3-1.
Keys’ Resilience
But this mature version of Keys, who battled all the way to beat Iga Swiatek in a 10-point final set tiebreak in the semifinals, is made of sterner stuff. She held from 0-30 in the third game to keep it on serve as the final set became a big-hitting baseline war with no holding back from either player. It stayed that way until 5-6 when Sabalenka served to take it to a final set tiebreak. Keys brought up two match points and secured the title on the second with her 29th winner after 2 hours 2 minutes.
Conclusion
Madison Keys’ victory marks a significant milestone in her career, as she becomes the fourth oldest first-time winner of a major since the Open Era began in 1968. Her determination and resilience paid off as she withstood a fierce fightback from Sabalenka to claim her first Grand Slam title.
FAQs
Q: How old is Madison Keys?
A: Madison Keys is 29 years old.
Q: Who did Madison Keys defeat in the Australian Open final?
A: Madison Keys defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final.
Q: How many winners did Madison Keys hit in the final?
A: Madison Keys hit 29 winners in the final.
Q: How long did the final match last?
A: The final match lasted 2 hours 2 minutes.