Madison Keys Outlasts Sabalenka To Achieve Grand Slam Dream At Australian Open - UBITENNIS

Madison Keys Outlasts Sabalenka To Achieve Grand Slam Dream At Australian Open

Madison Keys achieved her Grand Slam dream after edging past Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling Australian Open final.

By Tony Fairbairn
8 Min Read
(@AustralianOpen - Twitter)

Madison Keys outlasted Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 2-6 7-5 to win her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

The American hit 29 winners as she broke in the final game of the match to win a hard-fought contest, “I made my very first Grand Slam semi-final here in Melbourne, so to have won my first Grand Slam in the same place means the absolute world to me,” Keys was quoted by the BBC Sport website as saying in her on-court interview.

As for Sabalenka, the world number one will have to wait for her chance at history as her dominant run at Melbourne Park comes to an end, “I think we did our best, just Madison was doing incredible and I couldn’t do anything in this match. Next time I play Madison I will bring better tennis. Of course, sending love to my team. I love you even though we lost,” Sabalenka was quoted by the BBC Sport website as saying in her on-court interview.

Keys is now a Grand Slam champion at 29 years of age after proving that patience and persistence pays off.

It was a good start from Keys and a very tentative and nervy start from Sabalenka as the defending champion hit two double faults in the opening game before the American took advantage to break.

There was no signs of nerves from Keys, who was playing in her second Grand Slam final as she hit some incredible forehands and comfortably consolidated the break.

A lot of time was needed before Sabalenka could settle as she already let out a roar in the third game, narrowly avoiding a double break after a reckless unforced error from the American.

Sabalenka managed to get herself into a routine on serve in the third game and narrowly held serve but that didn’t faze Keys at all as she continued to look comfortable on return.

After avoiding losing her serve, Keys continued to hammer away on the forehand return with Sabalenka committing a catalogue of unforced errors with the American sealing a double break lead at 4-1.

The world number one tried everything to swing the momentum in her favour, even approaching the net but the American unpicked her game and continued to hit winners past a frustrated Sabalenka.

A lifeline was gained by Sabalenka in the sixth game as she fended off a wave of pressure from the American to hold in a ten minute game for 5-2 before breaking back with some consistent and powerful forehand winners.

Once again though, Sabalenka’s nervous jitters got the best of her as a double fault set up set point for Keys.

There was no hesitation from the 19th seed as she annihilated a backhand winner down the line to break for a third time and seal the opening set in 35 minutes.

At the start of the second set, Sabalenka applied persistent pressure on Key’s serve but remained frustrated at the amount of errors produced in important moments.

Despite not breaking in the opening game, the momentum was with Sabalenka and Keys produced some tactical errors which the top seed capitalised on to break for a 2-1 lead.

The world number one was in control for the first time in the match and resisted some early Keys pressure to hold from 0-30 and take a 3-1 lead.

Sabalenka was now feeling confident as she started to add some finesse to her game and she picked off a slice from Keys with ease as the defending champion comfortably sealed the double break for 4-1.

There was still pressure from Keys but this time around Sabalenka had the mental fortitude and confidence to ride the wave of pressure as she comfortably sealed the second set in 45 minutes, minimalising her unforced errors.

A lot of work was needed from Keys in order to turn this match around and the American made a positive start to the final set, holding to love which was sealed with an ace.

As expected there was a strong response from Sabalenka as she powered her way to a service hold of her own and threatened Keys’ serve in the next game, but the American dug deep and held for a 2-1 lead.

Keys needed to show some incredible resilience if she wanted to win this match and she was doing just that as she displayed some ridiculous shot-making.

The world number one matched the American in every department, producing some insane winners with the score at 3-3 in a tense deciding set.

As the set grew on, Keys was under an intense amount of pressure but produced some vital service and forehand winners to maintain scoreboard pressure on Sabalenka.

Two crucial holds set up a 5-4 lead but Sabalenka was not backing down any time soon as the Sabalenka backhand was pivotal in the set being level at 5-5, which was followed by a huge roar that the whole of Melbourne could hear.

A fired-up Sabalenka applied a mass amount of pressure on Keys but the American failed to be intimidated as back-to-back forehand winners secured a 6-5 as she roared with defiance.

Defiance turned into ecstasy as Keys produced a stunning final game as another forehand winner secured the break and her first Grand Slam title.

It was devastation for Sabalenka who slammed her racket in disgust and produced tears of her own as she will have to wait for history.

However tears for joy for Keys who achieves her Grand Slam triumph at the age of 29 and after the match the American thanked her team for always believing in her, “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,” Keys was quoted by the BBC Sport website as saying on court.

“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. I love you all so much and I cannot wait for more. I just want to say thank you so much. I’m so appreciative towards every single person who helped me continue to believe in myself and push on to achieve this dream.”

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