2025 Australian Open: American Madison Keys stuns Aryna Sabalenka to win first major title

Having already authored one surprising upset after another in the 2025 Australian Open, 19th-seeded American Madison Keys had one final stunning match left in her, taking down world No. 1 and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 to win her first major title.

Keys' remarkable victory Saturday marked the first Grand Slam title in 46 appearances for the 29-year-old American. Only two other women (Flavia Pennetta and Marion Bartoli) had more appearances before their first major titles. It also had been eight years since Keys last reached a Grand Slam final; she lost the 2017 U.S. Open, a match she said she dwelled on in the near-decade since. Her previous best Australian Open finish was 10 years ago, when she reached the semifinals in 2015.

"I've wanted this for so long," Keys said, chocking back tears as she accepted the championship trophy. "I've been to one other Slam final and it didn't go my way. I didn't know I'd ever be back ... and my team believed in me when I didn't believe in myself.

"Last year was so tough with some bad injuries. I didn't know if I'd be able to do it again."

Keys also became the first American woman to win the Australian Open since Sofia Kenin in 2020.

Sabalenka had won the past two Australian Opens — in addition to the 2024 U.S. Open — but Keys kept her on her heels from the moment the match started. Keys broke Sabalenka's serve in the opening game and didn't look back, taking an eventual 5-1 lead in the first set. Even after losing serve in her first attempt to close out the set, Keys shrugged off the missed opportunity by immediately breaking Sabalenka's serve again.

Keys held serve in the first game of the second set and seemed in firm control of the match. Sabalenka, however, stayed calm and won the next five games, also winning back any lost confidence, along with the momentum of the match.

That set the stage for a tense third set when both players held serve through the first 11 games. Up 6-5, Keys finally fought off Sabalenka's serve to set up two championship points. Her powerful crosscourt winner on the second delivered her first title. Keys threw her arms upward then broke into tears. By the time she settled into her seat, she was half-crying, half-laughing, seemingly in disbelief of the moment.

"I'm dazed and confused," she said later.

"I really kept telling myself, just try to keep the score close, keep the pressure on her," Keys said. "And then in the last game, I thought, just go for it."

Sabalenka has dominated on hardcourt in recent years, owning the Australian Open with consecutive titles. Her frustration at failing to become the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to win a third straight Aussie boiled over as soon as the match ended when she smashed her racquet on the sideline. She eventually calmed down and was gracious in defeat, praising Keys during the trophy presentation.

"I needed to throw those negative emotions at the end just so I could give a speech," Sabalenka said. "I was just trying to let it go and be a good person, be respectful."

Keys lost an epic three-set semifinal to Sabalenka at the 2023 U.S. Open when she won the first set 6-0 and later served for the match only to lose the final two sets in tiebreakers. It was a frustrating defeat that Keys said she's thought about often since.

"I'm just glad I got you back," Keys told Sabalenka after accepting the championship trophy.

Keys' rise to champion coincided with her coach and husband, Bjorn Fratangelo, suggesting she change the type of racquet she uses. The decision paid off: her serve soon improved. Including her victory over Sabalenka, Keys has now won 12 consecutive matches.

Using that booming serve, along with a powerful forehand, Keys marched her way through the tournament with one upset after another, four in total. The American beat No. 10 Danielle Collins in straight sets during the third round, before delivering an unexpected victory over No. 6 Elena Rybakina in Round 4. In the quarterfinals, Keys came back to beat No. 28 Elina Svitolina after dropping the first set. Then Keys made the final after stunning No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the semis in a thrilling third-set tiebreaker.

"I didn't know if I would ever be back in this position, so to be here and work so hard ... it all paid off," Keys said. "It's incredible."

Keys won five three-set matches during the tournament, the most in a single Australian Open since the Open Era. She became the first woman to beat the top two seeds at a major since 2009. Her resilience, perhaps, shouldn't have come as a surprise.

Keys turned pro 16 years ago and had a long climb to this moment, including battling through injuries last year. Her highest previous world ranking was No. 7 in 2016. After delivering the crowning victory of her career against Sabalenka, she could be well on her way to a sudden rise in 2025.