In a rollercoaster final that had fans on the edge of their seats, Madison Keys defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 at the Australian Open to win her maiden Grand Slam trophy! 🌟 The emotional victory ended Sabalenka's 20-match winning streak at Melbourne Park and marked Keys as the fourth-oldest first-time major champion in professional tennis history.
🔥 'Everything happens for a reason,' Keys told the crowd, champagne in hand. The 29-year-old credited her triumph to overcoming self-doubt: 'I finally let go of internal pressure… and played some really good tennis!'
Sabalenka, aiming for a historic three-peat, smashed her racket in frustration after the loss but vowed to bounce back: 'Next time I'll play better.' The Belarusian's powerful serves couldn't counter Keys' 29 winners across three thrilling sets.
🏆 This Cinderella story makes Keys the first player since Serena Williams (2003) to beat both the world No. 1 and No. 2 en route to an Australian Open title. Meanwhile, Finnish-British duo Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten staged their own comeback to claim the men's doubles crown.
