Madison Keys stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka by denying her a historic hat-trick of Australian Open championships and winning her first Grand Slam on Saturday. Sabalenka, the world number one, aimed to become the first woman since Martina Hingis in the late 1990s to win three consecutive victories at Melbourne Park. However, American Keys appeared destined never to win a Grand Slam championship.
She went professional at the age of 14 and improved on her semi-final shock of second seed Iga Swiatek by winning 6-3 2-6 7-5. Keys broke Sabalenka’s service in the first game of the match, and after missing a set point in the seventh and dropping serve herself in the eighth. She converted a second break point to win the first set in 35 minutes. However, the reigning champion replied regally.
Sabalenka dropped serve in the first game after committing two double faults, and she appeared off-colour in the early exchanges as the free-hitting Keys put pressure on the top seed with a diving crosscourt winner on the way to a double break. The American 19th seed rode her luck after a net chord winner to go ahead 5-1 in 20 minutes before giving up a break with a poor backhand.
Here’s the winning moment video
Madison Keys Proves Critics Wrong
Sabalenka gifted her a set point with a fourth double fault. Breaking in the third and fifth games to force a final set. Both competitors relied on their powerful serves and shot-making to keep the match tied until 5-5 in the decider, but Keys delivered some blistering winners to win the following two games and her career’s largest victory.
She congratulates Sabalenka and says she is ‘happy’ to have finally beaten the World No. 1. The American also thanked the AUS Open fans, organisers, sponsors, ball kids, WTA personnel, physios, and her coaching staff! She appreciates her staff for believing in her, especially after losing in the 2017 US Open final and suffering injuries last year. She also praises her spouse, who is a member of her coaching crew.
