By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Saturday, January 26, 2025
Photo credit: Fred Lee/Getty
Madison Keys has pulled off a stunning upset, toppling two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in a match that electrified fans everywhere.
After securing her first Grand Slam title with a dramatic 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 victory, the 19th-seeded Keys celebrated by unleashing a powerful forehand winner, while a frustrated Sabalenka vented by smashing her Wilson Blade racquet.
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With this victory, Keys ended Sabalenka’s remarkable 27-match winning streak in Melbourne, thwarting the world No. 1’s quest to join the ranks of legends like Martina Hingis, who achieved an impressive three-peat at the AO from 1997 to 1999.
In the post-match press conference, Sabalenka explained her racquet-breaking moment as a way to channel her frustration and to maintain composure during the trophy presentation. “There was definitely a bit of frustration because I was so close to achieving something extraordinary,” she admitted. “Being out there, it felt like everything was going against me.”
“I just had to let go of those negative feelings so that I could present myself respectfully,” she continued. “I aim to always be a good sport, even in tough moments. I understand that after losses come eventual triumphs, and I’ll keep striving to improve for the next opportunity.”
Once her racquet had faced its fate, Sabalenka shifted her focus to commend the exceptional skills of Keys. “If she continues to play at that level, there’s not much I can do,” Sabalenka acknowledged. “I have strategies against her, but tonight she was simply unstoppable.”
“Her precision and depth of shots were remarkable,” Sabalenka added. “I gave it my all, but she played an incredible match.”