Madison Keys winning her first-ever Grand Slam title at the 2025 Australian Open drew emotional reactions from tennis fans. The American edged out two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday, January 25.
Keys made a convincing start in the title clash, rushing to a 4-1 lead with a two-break advantage. Sabalenka clawed back to recover one break of serve but was ultimately denied by her opponent.
After Madison Keys clinched the opening set 6-3, though, Aryna Sabalenka returned the favor, breaking the American twice to force a decider (6-2). The players were locked in a neck-and-neck battle in the final set, with Keys remaining clutch and finding answers despite the World No. 1’s persistent challenge.
The American capitalized on a couple of errors spewing from Aryna Sabalenka’s racket and unleashed a conclusive winner in the final game to clinch the high-octane contest 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
This was Madison Keys’ second Grand Slam final and her first triumph following her loss at the 2017 US Open. En route to the title clash against Sabalenka, the American beat the likes of five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, Elina Svitolina, Elena Rybakina (2023 finalist), Danielle Collins (2022 finalist), Elena-Gabriela Ruse, and Ann Li.
Interestingly, she also had to fend off a match point against Swiatek in the semifinal to book her place in the final. Tennis fans were jubilant as Keys lifted the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup on Saturday.
"What a story. Beating Rybakina, Swiatek and Sabalenka is one of the hardest run ever to win a Slam,"none fan said.
"Madison Keys took the hardest route to win it all. She needs to beat Danielle Collins, Elena Rybakina, Elina Svitolina, #2 Iga Swiatek, and world #1 Aryna Sabalenka. No pure luck involved. She works for it. She's a Grand slam champion," another fan said.
Keys had her fair share of injuries during her career. She was forced out of competition for a month after she suffered a hamstring injury during her fourth-round match against Jasmine Paolini at Wimbledon last year. Fans were thus elated at the fairy-tale turnaround.
"What an incredible story. Almost 30, her career seemed to be going one way, and that was backwards. But she comes out of nowhere and wins one. Amazing," one fan said.
Notably, just a couple of months ago, Madison Keys married her longtime boyfriend, Bjorn Fratangelo, who also serves as her coach. Fratangelo, the boys’ singles champion at the 2011 French Open, was awarded for his contribution to Keys victory at Melbourne Park on Saturday.
"Nah getting married and then winning a GS right after is different type of blessings," one fan chimed in.
Here are a few more reactions from tennis fans:
Australian Open is Madison Keys' second title of 2025
Madison Keys scripted an unforgettable campaign during the Australian swing, clinching not only her maiden Grand Slam but also a WTA 500 title at the Adelaide International. The 29-year-old beat the likes of Beatriz Haddad Maia, Jelena Ostapenko, Daria Kasatkina, Liudmila Samsonova, and Jessica Pegula en route.
The Melbourne Major marks Keys’ tenth career title. Her previous best attempts were semifinal runs in 2015 and 2022. She is the first American since Sofia Kenin in 2020 to win the tournament.