Australian Open: Coup against Sabalenka: Keys celebrates first Grand Slam title

US tennis player Madison Keys stopped Aryna Sabalenka’s triumph at the Australian Open and surprisingly celebrated her first Grand Slam victory. The 29-year-old Keys prevailed in the final against the world number one 6:3, 2:6, 7:5 and prevented the Belarusian, who had triumphed in Melbourne in 2023 and 2024, from achieving a hat-trick of titles.

Seven and a half years after losing the final at the US Open, Keys fulfilled her dream of winning her first Grand Slam title. For this success she needed 46 starts at the four major tournaments – only the Italian Flavia Pennetta (49) and the French Marion Bartoli (47) needed a longer start in women’s history.

Keys back in the top ten

Keys is also the first player in 20 years to beat number one and number two in the tennis world at the Australian Open during the tournament. In the semifinals, the American, seeded number 19, knocked Iga Swiatek, second in the world rankings, out of the tournament.

Thanks to the successful days at Melbourne Park, Keys returns to the top ten in the world rankings in seventh place and can look forward to a victory bonus worth the equivalent of 2.11 million euros. Sabalenka, who remains number one in the world rankings despite the final defeat, can at least console herself with 1.14 million euros.

Sabalenka’s winning streak comes to an end

After 20 wins in a row, Sabalanka suffered another defeat at the Australian Open. The favorite started the final nervously in the Rod Laver Arena with a double fault and a lost service game and was unable to overcome the faulty game afterwards.

But that was also due to her opponent’s precise and powerful punches, which beat the otherwise dominant Sabalenka at her own game. The Belarusian was never pushed so much on the defensive throughout the tournament. After 2:02 hours, Keys turned her second match point into the greatest success of her career.