Madison Keys Ready to Take On Aryna Sabalenka in Australian Open Final
Madison Keys is gearing up to face Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final, seeking to pull off a major upset.
Sabalenka, the world's top-ranked player, is riding an 11-match winning streak and has lost only one set throughout the tournament. She's looking formidable, having navigated her way to the final with impressive victories, including a 6-4, 6-2 win over Paula Badosa in the semifinals. On the other hand, Keys has also been on a roll, winning her last 11 matches, including a thrilling semifinal victory over No. 2 Iga Świątek.
The men's doubles final will also take place on Saturday, featuring Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori against the British-Finnish duo of Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara.
Aryna Sabalenka is on the cusp of achieving a historic “three-peat” at the Australian Open, and she's favored to defeat Madison Keys in the final. Sabalenka has dominated their head-to-head, winning four of their five previous meetings. As she seeks to become the sixth woman to win three consecutive Australian Open titles, Sabalenka is drawing on her mental toughness, consistency, and power.
Sabalenka's form has been steadily improving throughout the tournament, and she's poised to join an elite group of women who have achieved this feat, including Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, and Martina Hingis. The prospect of etching her name alongside these legends is not lost on Sabalenka, who said, “It's crazy that I'm in a situation where I have a chance to put my name next to legends. I couldn't dream about that. It's going to mean a lot.”
As the first world number one to reach the final at Melbourne Park since Ash Barty in 2022, Sabalenka can expect a raucous reception from the crowd. She's bidding for her fourth Grand Slam title, having won the 2024 US Open, and is seeking to extend her 20-match winning streak on Rod Laver Arena. Sabalenka feels an affinity for the Australian Open, saying, “I just feel at home. Last year I thought, 'Okay, I feel at home, I feel so good here, I feel all the support'. This year I feel it even more. It feels like coming home to my home Slam.”
Madison Keys has been one of the surprises of the Australian Open, reaching her second Grand Slam final. Despite an impressive start to 2025, few expected Keys to get this far, but the 29-year-old American has proven herself to be a worthy finalist. She has beaten several top seeds, including world number two Iga Świątek, sixth seed Elena Rybakina, and 10th seed Danielle Collins.
It all comes down to this 🏆@SabalenkaA • @Madison_Keys • #AusOpen • #AO2025
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2025
Keys' only previous Grand Slam final appearance was at the 2017 US Open, where she lost to compatriot Sloane Stephens. The Adelaide champion knows she will have to raise her game to a different level to stand a chance against Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday. Sabalenka was ruthless in her semifinal win over her best friend Paula Badosa, showcasing her mental toughness and consistency.
Keys has been impressed by Sabalenka's mentality, saying, “What's really impressive is her mentality. Her ability to always go for it, no matter what the score is, is really impressive. She plays such fearless tennis and has the ability to play so well that way. It's very unique.” Sabalenka's coach, Anton Dubrov, echoed Keys' sentiments, highlighting Sabalenka's ability to maintain pressure throughout matches.
Dubrov said, “The opponents, they know they're going to face Aryna, and she can change all the time. They understand they have also be on the same level all the time. These top players, (the reason they are there) is because of the pressure, they just keep it there all the time.” Keys has shown she can be a formidable opponent, having blanked Sabalenka in the opening set of their US Open semifinal two years ago.
Sabalenka and Sinner are seeking to become the first pair in history to simultaneously win three consecutive hard-court Grand Slams 🤩#AO2025 https://t.co/Zyd3Osy5Jx
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2025
Playing in her 46th Grand Slam tournament, Keys will bid to become the fifth US player since 2000 to win an Australian Open title. Sabalenka is aware of the challenge Keys poses, saying, “She's playing incredible tennis as well. She's a very aggressive player, serving well, moving well. I saw her matches here. She's in great shape. It's going to be a great battle.”
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