Australian Open: Madison Keys Shocks Sabalenka to Claim First Grand Slam Title
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Synopsis
Madison Keys has achieved her first Grand Slam title by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling final at the 2025 Australian Open. The match concluded with scores of 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, marking a historic victory for the American player.
Key Takeaways
- Madison Keys wins her first Grand Slam title.
- Defeated Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion.
- Achieved a 12-match winning streak leading to the tournament.
- First woman to beat top two players at a major since 2009.
- Only two players have more Grand Slam appearances before their first title.
Melbourne, Jan 25 (NationPress) Madison Keys has finally secured her long-awaited Grand Slam title by defeating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka to win the 2025 Australian Open women’s singles championship. The 29-year-old American emerged victorious with scores of 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in a captivating final held under the lights of Rod Laver Arena, which lasted two hours and two minutes.
This triumph places Keys in the record books as the first woman to overcome the world’s top two players at a major since Svetlana Kuznetsova at the 2009 French Open, and the first to achieve this feat at the Australian Open since Serena Williams in 2005.
At the age of 29, Keys ranks among the older first-time major champions, becoming the fourth-oldest to do so, following Flavia Pennetta (33 years at the 2015 US Open), Ann Jones (30 years at Wimbledon in 1969), and Francesca Schiavone (29 years at Roland Garros in 2010).
Keys not only makes history with her victory but also with her remarkable form leading up to the tournament. Her 12-match winning streak, which includes the title from Adelaide just two weeks prior, is the longest of her career. Notably, this final was the first between players who both won lead-up tournaments since the Australian Open moved to its January schedule in 1987.
Two-time defending champion Sabalenka entered the final boasting a 20-match winning streak at Melbourne Park and an unbeaten record of 11-0 in 2025 after winning the Brisbane trophy three weeks ago. She aimed to become the first woman to achieve a hat-trick of Australian Open titles since Martina Hingis from 1997-99 and held a 4-1 head-to-head advantage over the No. 19 seed Keys.
The Australian Open marked Keys' 46th Grand Slam main-draw appearance. Only two players have made more appearances before winning their first title — Flavia Pennetta with 49 and Marion Bartoli with 47.
