Australian Open: “Means the world”: Keys celebrates the first Grand Slam title

Madison Keys posed with a blissful smile for the many cameras and gave the silver trophy on her arm a tender kiss. It almost seemed as if the tennis player from the United States never wanted to give up the Henkel Cup, which seemed out of reach for her for years.

In Melbourne to celebrate their first Grand Slam tournament victory at the Australian Open, “means absolutely the world for me,” said the 29-year-old after her 6: 3, 2: 6, 7: 5 final coup against the favorite world ranking aryna Sabalenka from Belarus: “I’ve wanted it for so long.”

Long wait has an end

During her victory speech, Keys thanked her husband and coach Björn Fratangelo, who also stood tears in his eyes, and the other team members. “They believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself.”

Seven and a half years after her lost final at the US Open, Keys, who was celebrated as “New Serena Williams” at the beginning of her career at home, still voted a Grand Slam winner. For this success she needed 46 starts at the four major tournaments – only the Italian Flavia Pennetta (49) and the Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli (47) needed a longer attempt in history.

Huge frustration with Sabalenka

Immediately after her second match ball converted after two hours after two hours with a rich punch, Keys had put his hands over her head almost incredulously. Then she ran into her husband’s arms and shed tears on his shoulder.

There was completely different emotion on the other. Sabalenka threw her racket against the bank and hid her tears under a white towel. Perhaps out of self -protection, she also briefly went to the cabin in front of the ceremony in the Rod Laver Arena. The frustration with the missed title Hattrick at the Australian Open was huge for the winner of 2023 and 2024.

Sabalenka found her smile at the ceremony. “Wow, what a tournament,” she said to Keys, “you played incredibly”. The Belarussin added: “I hope I will come back more and win next year.”

Keys back in the top ten

Keys has been the first player in 20 years to beat the number one and two of the tennis world at the Australian Open in the course of the tournament. In the semi -finals, the American, which was placed at number 19, had thrown the world ranking second IGA Swiatek out of the tournament.

Through the successful days in Melbourne Park, Keys returns to the top ten of the world rankings in seventh place and can look forward to a winning bonus of the equivalent of 2.11 million euros. Sabalenka, who keeps the world ranking place one despite the final defeat, can comfortably comfort itself with 1.14 million euros.

Sabalenka’s winning streak tears

After 20 wins in a row, Sabalanka again received a defeat at the Australian Open. The favorite started with a double mistake and a lost impact game nervously into the final and could not take off the faulty game afterwards.

But that was also due to the precise and powerful blows of her opponent, who almost hit the Sabalenka otherwise dominant with their own weapons. The Belarusin was not so crowded into the defensive in the entire tournament.