Sabalenka defeated

Australian Open final: Sabalenka against Keys

Madison Keys with the trophy(Bild: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The sensation is perfect: US-American Madison Keys has won the Australian Open!

The 29-year-old defeated the top-seeded Belarusian defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6:3,2:6,7:5 in a high-class final in Melbourne on Saturday. Keys had also eliminated the tournament's number two, Poland's Iga Swiatek, in the semi-finals. It is her first major title in her second chance to reach the final, having lost the final to compatriot Sloane Stephens at the 2017 US Open.

"I wanted this title so badly, I've already lost one final," said Keys at the trophy presentation, referring to her biggest match to date almost seven and a half years earlier. Winning her first major in Melbourne was very significant for her, as she had also reached her first Grand Slam semi-final there in 2015. Keys had big thanks for her coach and husband Björn Fratangelo, who was also presented with a trophy. "He and my team always believed in me. I didn't know if I would be in this situation again."

"I wanted this title so badly, I've already lost one final."

Madison Keys

Keys gets off to a flying start
Keys, who was only seeded number 19, made a brilliant start to the match. She stole the thunder from Sabalenka, who usually plays aggressively, with equally aggressive play. The world number one gave away her first service game right away, around 20 minutes later it was 5:1 and Keys had set point. Sabalenka, who had been unusually error-prone up to that point, recovered, made up two games and had a chance to make it 4:5, but Keys closed out the set to lead 1:0.

Madison Keys(Bild: AFP or licensors)

Sabalenka left the court during the break in the set and obviously caught herself. After giving up her serve three times in the first set, she managed to get her revenge for the first time to make it 2:1. Keys couldn't get any closer, even though she continued to play well. However, her opponent now mixed her game with shorter balls, which did not suit Keys. So it came down to the deciding set in the - naturally sold-out - Rod Laver Arena.

Aryna Sabalenka(Bild: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The outcome was open for a long time, in contrast to the first two rounds, it was all about the serve. The level of the match reached its climax and Keys was already leading 5:4 as a returner, just one game away from her biggest success. However, Sabalenka counter-attacked from the other side. Keys went 6:5 ahead again, but this time she didn't miss the chance and delivered the most important break of her tennis life so far. After 2:02 hours of play, she had the triumph in the bag.

Sabalenka misses triple chance
Sabalenka left the court disappointed after the defeat, but was composed and fair in the interview. "I tried everything, but Madison was just too strong. What a tournament you played, wow. Congratulations to you and your team," said the three-time major winner after winning the last US Open in the direction of Keys. "But I will come back even stronger next year."

It was Sabalenka's first defeat at this tournament in three years - against Keys, who remains unbeaten this year. The head-to-head between the two is now only 4:2 in Sabalenka's favor. A win would have made her the sixth player to win three Melbourne titles en suite and the first since Switzerland's Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999. She is now just 200 points ahead of Swiatek in the world rankings, while Keys has jumped from 14th to 7th. She will receive the equivalent of 2.11 million euros for the title, while Sabalenka will receive 1.9 million.