Madison Keys stunned world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to win the Australian Open, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. It is the U.S. star's first Grand Slam championship at age 29. Sabalenk was attempting to win her third consecutive Australian Open, but Keys broke her serve for the win, finishing it with a terrific groundstroke winner:
The Keys to victory!@Madison_keys caps an incredible fortnight with a breakthrough Grand Slam title!
Keys entered the tournament ranked 19th, but beat her sport's two top players at the end for the title, having taken down Iga Swiatek in the semifinals. That match proved to be pivotal in Keys' belief she could win it all, but she credited a new mindset for the win, saying post-match, "I've done a lot of work to no longer need [a Grand Slam title]. I really wanted it, but it's no longer the thing that was going to define me, and kind of letting go of that burden, I finally gave myself the ability to play for it."
This was an exceptional match, equal in quality from both players — they were separated by a single point (94-93) in the match — and a fitting way for Keys to win her first Grand Slam after 13 years on tour, overcoming myriad injuries to finally meet the lofty expectations thrust upon her at 16.
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THE ASYLUM
Bob Maddamma
3:14 pm - 01.25.2025rochester, n.y.Madison Keys stunned world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to win the Australian Open, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. It is the U.S. star's first Grand Slam championship at age 29. Sabalenk was attempting to win her third consecutive Australian Open, but Keys broke her serve for the win, finishing it with a terrific groundstroke winner:
Keys entered the tournament ranked 19th, but beat her sport's two top players at the end for the title, having taken down Iga Swiatek in the semifinals. That match proved to be pivotal in Keys' belief she could win it all, but she credited a new mindset for the win, saying post-match, "I've done a lot of work to no longer need [a Grand Slam title]. I really wanted it, but it's no longer the thing that was going to define me, and kind of letting go of that burden, I finally gave myself the ability to play for it."
This was an exceptional match, equal in quality from both players — they were separated by a single point (94-93) in the match — and a fitting way for Keys to win her first Grand Slam after 13 years on tour, overcoming myriad injuries to finally meet the lofty expectations thrust upon her at 16.
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