American underdog Madison Keys finally got her hands on a Grand Slam trophy after holding off defending champion Aryna Sabalenka to win the Australian Open women’s title.
Keys, playing her second major final and first for more than seven years, overcame the world number one 6-3 2-6 7-5.
Only three other women have been older than the 29-year-old Keys when winning their first Grand Slam title.
Keys, seeded 19th in Melbourne, clasped her head in amazement before sharing an emotional hug with husband and coach Bjorn Fratangelo.
“I have wanted this for so long. I never knew if I’d be in this position again,” said Keys.
Belarus’ Sabalenka, 25, had been attempting to claim a rare third successive victory at the opening major of the season.
After Keys secured victory, Sabalenka warmly hugged her opponent at the net before her mood quickly soured.
She smashed a racquet then covered her head with a towel before walking off court.
When she returned a few minutes later she received a warm ovation from the 15,000 fans on Rod Laver Arena.
“Madison was incredible and I couldn’t do anything,” said Sabalenka.
“Next time I play Madison I will bring better tennis.”
Keys caps incredible run
Patience can be a precious commodity in sport and even Keys thought her chance of winning one of tennis’ greatest prizes had slipped by.
Her only previous Grand Slam final appearance had seen her lose the 2017 US Open title to Sloane Stephens.
The seven-and-a-bit years between Keys’ first and second major finals is the longest gap in the Open era on the women’s side.
After reaching the French Open and US Open semi-finals in 2018, Keys dropped outside of the world’s top 50 after struggling with injuries.
She returned to the top 10 in early 2022 after making the Australian Open semi-finals and also had a run to the last four at the 2023 US Open.
Keys was denied a place in the final of her home Grand Slam by Sabalenka – a crushing defeat in which she regretted playing “too safe”.
“I’m glad I’ve got you back,” Keys joked afterwards.
After another injury-hit season last year, which forced her to miss the Australian Open, Keys was unsure if she would “be able to do it all again”.
A bold move to change racquet manufacturer in the off-season has paid dividends, with Keys keeping her explosive power while playing with a level of confidence she previously lacked.
Beating Sabalenka was the pinnacle of a title run where has beaten a host of star names.
Keys also beat second seed Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals, becoming the first player to beat the top two Australian Open seeds since Serena Williams in 2005.
That came on the back of previous victories over former Melbourne finalists Danielle Collins and Elena Rybakina, plus 2023 Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina.
Madison Keys is the first woman to beat the top two seeds at a major since Svetlana Kuznetsova at the 2009 French Open
How Keys unlocked Sabalenka in gripping final
Sabalenka was the pre-match favourite, having won 33 of her previous 34 matches on the Australian hard courts.
But Keys, a powerful baseliner, is one of the few players on the WTA Tour who has the weapons to damage Sabalenka.
The explosive match-up led to a gripping final where Keys won only one more point overall.
A stunning opening set, where she whacked 11 winners and had a rock-solid first serve, set the platform.
Keys was also helped by a nervy start from Sabalenka, whose once-unstable second serve returned to trouble her.
Two double faults in the opening game allowed Keys to break, while another set up a second break point in the fifth game which Sabalenka handed over with a sliced forehand into the net.
Keys continued to play lights out, thumping clean winners from the back of the court and also showing deft touches.
A bemused Sabalenka could only smile when Keys pulled out an ice-cold drop-shot on the way to holding for 5-1.
However, Sabalenka was furious with herself after a fourth double fault handed over another set point, which Keys took with a backhand winner.
“She played super aggressive. It seemed like everything was going her way,” said Sabalenka.
“I was just trying to put the ball back. I couldn’t really play my aggressive tennis and didn’t feel my serve that well.”
Sabalenka was aiming to follow in the footsteps of Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Martina Hingis by claiming a Melbourne ‘three-peat’
An exasperated Sabalenka felt the need to go off court after a 35-minute first set and, having tried to clear her head, was able to shift momentum.
Keys was unable to sustain her previous level, with her winners deteriorating and her first serve lacking precision.
While Sabalenka was still lacking fluency – illustrated by a long forehand that left her dropping her racquet in exasperation – she improved enough to dominate the second set.
A tight and tense decider did not produce a break point until the pivotal 12th game.
Keys upped the ante with some deep returning that Sabalenka could not handle, before sealing victory with a wonderful cross-court forehand winner.
“She played incredible,” said Sabalenka.
“I was trying my best. Obviously, it didn’t work well.”
Reported by BBC
