Madison Keys won her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2025 Australian Open, one month shy of her 30th birthday. After the match point, there was not a dry eye in Rod Laver Arena.
THIS MATCH POINT❗
Madison Keys is the 2025 Australian Open champ 🏆 pic.twitter.com/YcE5uEaXdy
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 25, 2025
From her early years, Keys has been considered a tennis phenom. She played her last Grand Slam final at the 2017 US Open against her good friend Sloane Stephens, but she was not ready for the moment that day.
Seven-plus years later, with hard losses including a semifinal heartbreaker in the 2023 US Open to Aryna Sabalenka, injuries, and plenty of time to doubt if she could ever get another shot, she did it. Keys worked her way through a very difficult draw and was match point down to Iga Swiatek along the way.
Keys beat Collins, Rybakina, Svitolina, Swiatek, Sabalenka… when was the last time someone had THIS epic of a run to a slam title? #AusOpen
— Christian’s Court (@christianscourt) January 25, 2025
The statistics are mind-boggling. This is her 46th Grand Slam appearance. The real story is about her resilience.
Madison Keys Resilience
Keys played spectacular tennis in 2025 winning Adelaide International a few weeks ago.
Keys, with her new husband and coach Bjorn Fratangelo, worked hard this offseason and made big changes. Those brave changes, to her equipment and serve, made a difference.
Fratangelo deserves credit for elevating her game at this stage in her career. He is a calming force.
There is something so spectacular about Keys and her ability to play, relish, and enjoy the big moments against Sabalenka when the match could have gone either way in Melbourne.
Madison Keys wins her first Grand Slam title 🏆 #AustralianOpen
The American upset two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 👏 pic.twitter.com/2pSMKROqDc
— ESPN (@espn) January 25, 2025
In the post-match interview, she admitted it took years to let go of the feeling that she had to win a Grand Slam to shape her career. Keys always wanted it, but letting go of those expectations freed her to earn it.
Congratulations Madison Keys!
