By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday, January 25, 2025
In a momentous turn of events, Madison Keys, now 29, has made her mark in the tennis world by clinching her very first Grand Slam title in Melbourne, ten years after her initial semifinal appearance. This victory against Aryna Sabalenka not only secured her place in history but also made her the fifth American woman to triumph at the Australian Open since 2000.
Let’s dive into the remarkable statistics surrounding Keys’ historic win:
29 – At 29 years old, Keys becomes the oldest woman to win her first singles Grand Slam title in the Open Era, trailing only Flavia Pennetta (33), Ann Jones (30), and Francesca Schiavone (29).
46 – Her victory came in her 46th Grand Slam tournament. Only two women have taken longer to secure their first major title: Flavia Pennetta did it in her 49th major appearance at the 2015 US Open, and Marion Bartoli in her 47th at Wimbledon.
Additionally, Keys holds the distinction of being the second oldest player to capture her inaugural Australian Open title in the Open Era. The only player to achieve this at an older age is Li Na, who won it in 2014 at 31.
2005 – By defeating both the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked players, Keys became the first woman to win the Australian Open in this manner since Serena Williams in 2005. Furthermore, she’s the first woman to claim any Grand Slam title by overcoming the world’s top two players since Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2009.
7 – Keys rises to a career-high rank of No. 7, marking her return to the Top 10 for the first time since January 9, 2023.
Major achievements that hit differently 🗣️ @Madison_Keys #AusOpen #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/Git8BopgT9
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2025
3 – Keys triumphed over three former Grand Slam champions during the tournament—Rybakina, Swiatek, and Sabalenka—and also bested former finalist Danielle Collins.
25 – The last time Keys reached a major final was 25 tournaments ago, at the 2017 US Open, marking the longest gap for any player between their first two major finals.
5 – Moreover, Keys has won her opening five matches against Top-10 players this year, becoming the oldest player to achieve this feat since Serena Williams in 2014.
12 – Saturday’s victory extended Keys’ impressive winning streak to 12 matches, building on her prior title in Adelaide before arriving in Melbourne.