Madison Keys defeated World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in a dramatic three-set thriller to reach her first Australian Open final, marking an eight-year return to a Grand Slam singles final. Keys will now face Aryna Sabalenka, who is aiming for her third consecutive Australian Open title.
Madison Keys delivered a stunning upset, defeating World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in a dramatic three-set thriller to secure her place in the Australian Open final for the first time. The American's historic victory was decided by a captivating tiebreak, marking a significant triumph in her impressive 2025 season start. Keys' journey back to the Grand Slam finals is truly remarkable.
The eight-year gap between her first and second appearances in a major singles final is the longest in the Open Era, according to Opta. Furthermore, she had previously endured a string of five losses in her last six Grand Slam semi-finals, all against players who had or would become major champions. Now, the 29-year-old from Illinois will face off against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final, a formidable opponent who has been nearly unstoppable on hard courts. Sabalenka showcased her dominance with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Spain's Paula Badosa, earning a spot in her third consecutive Australian Open women's singles final. This achievement makes her the eighth player in the Open Era to accomplish this feat. Remarkably, Sabalenka is also the fifth player in the Open Era to reach five consecutive women's singles Grand Slam hard court finals, following in the footsteps of legends like Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, and Martina Hingis. Sabalenka's impressive run at the Australian Open continues, with 20 straight victories dating back to her dominant performance in 2023, where she dropped only one set on her way to her first major title. Last year, she secured her second consecutive title without losing a single set, defeating Qinwen Zheng 6-3, 6-2 in the final. Keys stands as the only obstacle between Sabalenka and equaling Hingis' record of three straight Australian Open titles between 1997 and 1999. Keys, visibly emotional after her tiebreak victory, acknowledged the high level of competition she faced against Swiatek. 'That match was such a high level and she played so well. I was fighting to stay in it,' the American said. 'I really kind of ran with it in the second and the third was such a battle. I'm so excited that I get to be here on Saturday.' Keys, the oldest women's singles finalist at the Australian Open since Serena and Venus Williams in 2017, expressed excitement for the upcoming final against Sabalenka. 'She's obviously going for her third Aussie Open, and I'm excited to get to play her. I'm really excited for the challenge.
Australian Open Madison Keys Iga Swiatek Aryna Sabalenka Grand Slam Tennis
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