American Madison Keys won the Australian champion’s double defendant Australian Aryna Sabalenko for 1. Grand Slam title

When Madison Keys stepped into Rod Laver Arena at 7:37 PM Local Time on Saturday night local time before 2025 Australian open Finally, she walked right next to the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, a silver trophy that goes to the female champion and is placed on a pedestal near the entrance to the field.

The keys did not break. I didn’t stop staring. That part of the hardware then moved near a coin tossing net before the match, close to how much it could be where the American was standing. Close enough to touch. Close enough to feel really. It was also there Aryna SabalenkaWoman number 1 and double defended the champion at Melbourne Park, which would not make things easier in this cold, light dinner.

Exactly 2 1/2 hours-one 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 wins over Sabalenko-were the keys later, smiling the widest smile while holding that part of the hardware with both hands, Grand Slam Champion for The For the first time in age of 29 years. This was the second chance to play for the big title: the first ended in burning losses at the US Open 2017, the experience that taught her that she had to play through her nerves.

“I wanted that for so long,” said Keys, who was born in Illinois, and now it is based in Florida, “and I was in another Grand Slam final, and I didn’t go, and I didn’t, and I didn’t, and I didn’t . I will return to this position. “

She is the oldest woman to become the first slam champion because Flavia Pennetta was 33 at the US Open 2015. This is the 46th Slam appearance for Keys, the third most popular before winning the main title, behind only Pennetta 49 and Marion Bartoli 47 when she won Wimbledon in 2013.

Even the keys did not go easy.

Before this three -set victory came against one against no. 2 Iga Swiatek in the semifinals, saving the point of the match along the way. Not since Serena Williams in 2005, a player beat both best women by WTA Melbourne Park.

“Madison: Wow, what a tournament,” Sabalenka said during the ceremony on the ground, in which she joked with her escort that their defeat was guilty.

“Enjoy the celebration,” Keys said. “Enjoy a really fun part.”

Keys, ranked 14th and saturated 19, prevented Sabalenko from earning what would be her third female trophy in a row at the Australian Open-Nature, which Martina Hingis last achieved from 1997-99. her fourth main title.

When it was over, the keys covered her face with her hands and then lifted her hands. She soon hugged her husband, Bjorn Fratangelo – who is her coach of 2023 – and other members of her team, before sitting on the side bench and laughing.

Sabalenka then covered her racket, then covered her with a white towel.

“It just wasn’t my day,” Sabalenka said.

The Keys broke three times in the first set, and partly helped four double sabbath mistakes and 13 total unrestrained mistakes.

Don’t think for a moment that this is just an example that Sabalenka was his own cancellation.

Keys certainly had a lot to do with the way things go. She assembled 11-4 edges in the winners in the introductory set, managing to hit Sabalenka’s big hit several times.

It seemed to be stretching as if each hit with the Key Key Keyside racket, to which she switched to this season, on a frotangel urging, to protect her right shoulder, and to facilitate control of her significant forces – she landed exactly where she wanted.

Near the corner. On the line. From the reach of Sabalenko, a 26-year-old from Belarus.

It was also an important way to which Keys, whose left thigh was recorded for the match, covered each part of the field, racing to reach the balls and send them back over the net with intent. With one great defensive sequence, she sprinted for Forehand, who pulled Forehand into a net from Sabalenko, which stopped a break for a 4-1 lead.

Never one to hide her emotions during the match, Sabalenka often showed frustration while lagging on the table, hitting the ball after hitting a volley, throwing her racket after missing her head, clapping her leg after the wrong Forehand.

Sabalenka traveled to the locker room before the second set, and whether it helped to clean her swing of her head or slow down the keys – or both – the skin of the finals soon changed. The percentage of the first serving of KEYS in the first set fell from 86% to 59% in the second. In the second set, Sabalenka raised her winner to 13 and began to accumulate and pretend the points.

When she sent Backhand down the line to force the mistake of the keys to a break and a 2-1 lead in another, Sabalenka shaking her left fist and squeezing her teeth as she walked on her side.

The action in the third set was tight and tense, without so much time interrupted to his last game, when Keys went with one last winner of Forehand.

Here’s how close this was: Keys won only another Sabalenko point, 92-91. They both ended up with 29 winners.

Keys had to wait, yes, but there was a moment she longed for.