Madison Keys sends strongly-worded advice to Alexander Zverev ahead of Jannik Sinner encounter in Australian Open final

After her stunning victory over Aryna Sabalenka, the newly-crowned Australian Open women's singles champion Madison Keys has offered advice to Alexander Zverev. Zverev faces defending champion Jannik Sinner in Sunday's men's final, and there are many similarities between Keys' and Zverev's respective career paths and achievements.

Keys defied the odds to upset the much-favored Sabalenka in a pulsating match at the Rod Laver Arena, pocketing her first major title at 29. The win is all the sweeter for Keys as she had tasted defeat in her previous grand slam final appearance - the 2017 US Open when she had lost meekly in straight sets to good friend Sloane Stephens.

Alexander Zverev has also suffered heartbreak in major finals. He found himself at the wrong end of the result at the US Open 2020, losing a tight match to Dominic Thiem. He was also unlucky to lose the French Open final in 2024 when he succumbed in five sets to Carlos Alcaraz. Both Keys and Zverev have been knocking at the door of Grand Slam success for many years, and now that Keys has walked through it, she had some encouraging words for the German.

She told at her press conference:

"I feel like he has better advice to beat Jannik than I do. But, I mean, I think at some point it's really just kind of letting go of the stress of...will I ever win one? And not really worrying about it and just playing tennis."

Both Zverev and Keys are long-time pro's on the circuit. Keys, now 29, turned professional on her 14th birthday, and Zverev, 27, entered his first professional tournament at the 2011 Moselle Open on the ATP Tour, also aged 14. Zverev has a better career record with 23 titles than Keys' 10. He has also enjoyed more success at majors than Keys, reaching the finals of the US, French, and now the Australian Open.

Zverev can take confidence from Keys' major title success when he challenges Sinner

2025 Australian Open - Day 13 - Source: Getty

Keys took her maiden title from the defending champion, and Zverev will need to do the same if he's to lift the trophy on Sunday. Sabalenka and Sinner present similar formidable obstacles - both world No. 1's and top seeds at the tournament - so Key's win over Sabalenka should give Zverev the motivation he needs. Keys' advice to him emphasized the need to focus only on things he can control:

"At the end of the day that's all you can control. You can only control your side of the court. That's all you can focus on. If you put yourself in that position enough times, then usually good things happen."

Keys has waited 15 years to realize her dream and endured many ups and downs. Zverev, two years younger, has a chance to replicate her success. Sinner's progress through the tournament has had its challenges, not least health-wise, and the stage may be set for Alexander Zverev to join Keys finally as a major winner.