AO 2025 - Women's final: Keys turns teen prodigy to Grand Slam champion

The 29-year-old saved match point to down world No.2 Iga Swiatek in the semi-final and rose to the occasion once again on Rod Laver Arena to halt the world No.1's attempt to three-peat at Melbourne Park.

After her first professional match at 14-years-old, overwhelmed in a maiden major final at US Open 2017, there were quarter-finals and semi-finals that followed. The question over a champion's mentality always lingered, not anymore. Madison Keys has delivered the ultimate lesson to keep fighting, to keep evolving to reach your goals.

"I made my very first Grand Slam semi-final here in Melbourne (2015), so to have won my first Grand Slam in the same place means the absolute world to me," said Keys, clutching the trophy.

"Just want to say thank you to my team - this is where I'm going to cry - I have wanted this for so long.

"I've been in one other Grand Slam final and it didn't go my way, and I didn't know if I was going to be able to get back into this position to win a trophy again.

"My team believed in me every step of the way. They believed in me when I didn't believe in myself and helped me every step of the way."

Speaking to reporters in Melbourne, Keys revealed "lots of therapy" was a pivotal factor in helping the 29-year-old unlock her major potential. Combining sports therapy and her team's input - including husband and coach Bjorn Fratangelo - the American regained her belief to make this day possible.

"I honestly think kind of through the last year. Even with the injuries and some tough losses, I just felt like I was starting to find myself a little bit more. I was starting to be a little bit more clearheaded and present on court. I felt like I was starting to get better at problem-solving on court, in the moment a lot better," reflected Keys, returning to her career-high of world No.7 on Monday.

"In the past, I kind of felt like sometimes during matches, especially when things started to go awry, I was almost not in my own body and I was kind of looking down at myself. I felt like I couldn't connect my brain to my body.

"I just feel like it's one of those things that slowly keeps building. All of a sudden you're winning a bunch of matches in Adelaide. Then you're coming in here. I think winning that match the other night against Iga (Swiatek) was really kind of a big hurdle where I felt like...

"I always believed that I could do it, but to do it that way I think really I thought to myself after the match that I can absolutely win on Saturday."

It was an assured, yet whirlwind, start from Keys.

The American capitalised upon a brace of early Aryna Sabalenka double faults to chalk up an instant break. A smooth forehand pass from Keys exemplified that the 29-year-old was setting the standards.

The whole Keys repertoire was on song. She managed to sprint left and clip a backhand slice drop shot to catch Sabalenka completely off guard for a 5-1 advantage. 

The world No.1 erased one break, but Keys kept committing to her play. An 11th winner of a classy set, a bullet backhand down the line, secured the opener in style.

The world No.14 landed 19 of 22 first serves and restricted Sabalenka to just four winners. It's incredibly rare the world No.1 is so overpowered.

A wayward smash and Sabalenka dropped her racket to the floor, with arms up to her team in disbelief.

However, the top seed began to find top-drawer tennis. Silky drops shots became a featureand a collection of cannonball forehands opened up a 2-1 response. Sabalenka was still searching for her A Game, still disjointed, but was soon letting out an almighty roar a double break ahead. 

Despite a majestic forehand on the run from Keys, the world No.1 fended off danger to slate up an 87th successive Grand Slam match winning at least one set. That's the third longest streak in the Open Era, behind Martina Navratilova (143) and Chris Evert (95), making Keys' triumph even more impressive.

The third set was where Keys truly showed her major credentials. At 2-2 the 29-year-old was chuckling after somehow launching high to redirect a backhand overhead out wide to have the top seed scrambling by the photographer's pit.

Sabalenka kept biting back, a lasered, inch-perfect backhand over the net post a game later sent out a signal to Keys. The American had other ideas, never hesitating down the back straight, as both players competed with such compelling firepower, poise and purpose.

The American crouched low to crush a blazing forehand winner at 5-5 to ramp up the pressure on the reigning champion. Letting rip on the returns, Keys was all of a sudden at championship point and a flashy inside-out forehand winner sealed the deal.

Moments after hugging her team and taking in her accomplishment, Keys was sat on her bench just laughing. A joyous end to a final and storyline that makes the tennis world smile.

"Madison, wow. What a tournament. You have been fighting really hard to get this trophy, you have been playing unbelievable tennis, you crushed it tonight," said Sabalenka."Congrats to you and your team, really well deserved. Enjoy the celebration, enjoy the fun part."

Missing out on the three-peat truly hurt Sabalenka, but she's taking great pride in her run of 20-straight wins at Melbourne Park.

"I think when you get to the point of finals, it's trophy or nothing. Nobody remembers the finalist, you know? Of course, I have to be anyway proud of myself with the finals, three finals in the row. That's something crazy. I hope that next year I'll come back as a better player, and I'll hold Daphne one more time."

During her press conference, Sabalenka was told that Keys has been inspired by the world No.1 to go big in the big moments.

"Why would you say that?" joked Sabalenka. "That's definitely something you have to do when you in the top. If you are aggressive player, you have to go for your game at the important moments.

"That's crazy to hear that I'm younger than her and she's inspired by me. It's means a lot. I always wanted to be an inspiration. Maybe not for the players but people outside of tennis (laughter).

"That's crazy. It's good to hear. I hope that next time I'll play a little bit better than her in those big moments."