Madison Keys wins first Grand Slam of career at Australian Open 2025 with stunning win over 2x defending champ Aryna Sabalenka

Madison Keys won the first Grand Slam title of her career on Saturday, beating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the final of the 2025 Australian Open. Keys has now joined the likes of Serena Williams, Sofia Kenin, Chris Evert, and Martina Navratilova to have won the tournament while representing the USA.

Keys started off on the front foot, breaking early in the first set to go 2-0 up. With Sabalenka showing signs of nervousness and the Belarusian's serve misfiring, she opened up a two-break lead. Although the World No. 1 managed to get one break back, Keys held on to take the set 6-3.

In the second set, it was Sabalenka's turn to go hard on the serve, as the 26-year-old broke her opponent's serve twice to take the set 6-2 and force a decider under the lights on Rod Laver Arena.

In the third set, both players hit their stride when it came to their service games, producing breathtaking displays of power hitting to go with it. It remained neck and neck until 6-5, when Sabalenka, serving to stay in the match, lost serve on the second match point after a stunning forehand winner from the American.

With Sabalenka's loss, only five women in the Open Era have won the Australian Open three times on the trot: Steffi Graf (1988-90), Monica Seles (1991-93), Martina Hingis (1997-99), Margaret Court (1969-71), and Evonne Goolagong (1974-76).

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"I have wanted this for so long" - Madison Keys on Australian Open title win

2025 Australian Open - Day 14 - Source: Getty

Speaking at the presentation ceremony after the win, an emotional Madison Keys dedicated the victory to her husband Bjorn, who also acts as her coach, as well as her team. The American teared up as she spoke about how much the victory meant to her and thanked her team for staying by her side amid all the lows in her career through the years.

"I have wanted this for so long and I have been in one of the Grand Slam's finals, it did not go my way, didn't know, if I was ever be able to get back to this position to try to win a trophy again. My team believed in me in every step of the way so, thank you so much. They believed in me when I didn't believe in myself and helped me every step of the way," Keys said.

"I just wanna say, thank you so much, I am so appreciative to every single person who helped me continue to believe in myself, push on to achieve this dream and thank you so much and I cannot wait to see you all next year," she added.

Thanks to the Melbourne win, Madison Keys will break into the top 10 and reach a career-high World No. 7 ranking next week.