Madison Keys dethroned world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka to become the oldest first-time winner of the women’s singles title at the Australian Open
USA’s Madison Keys celebrates with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after defeating Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka during their women’s singles final match on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne
Madison Keys shocked two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka to win her maiden Australian Open title
Big-hitting Madison Keys caused a seismic shock to deny world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka an historic hat-trick of Australian Open titles and claim her maiden Grand Slam crown on Saturday.
World No 1 Sabalenka was bidding to become the first woman since Martina Hingis in the late 1990s to win three straight titles at Melbourne Park.
But American Keys, who seemed destined never to achieve the Grand Slam title that had been predicted when she turned professional aged only 14, followed up her upset of second seed Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals by sealing a 6-3 2-6 7-5 victory on Rod Laver Arena.
“There’s no way I’m getting through this without tears,” said an emotional Keys after stepping up to receive the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.
“I made my very first Grand Slam semi-final here so to have won my first Grand Slam in the same place means the absolute world to me. “I have wanted this for so long. I have been in one other Grand Slam final, it didn’t go my way and I didn’t know if I was ever going to be able to get back to this position.
“My team believed in me every step of the way so thank you so much. They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. “Last year was so tough with some bad injuries. To be here and to be able to do it with my husband, who’s dazed and confused over there, I love you all so much.”
Keys, who is the oldest woman to make her Grand Slam breakthrough at Melbourne Park, rushed over to her courtside coaching pod, where she sobbed in the arms of husband Bjorn Fratangelo, who has played a crucial role in her breakthrough having agreed to become her coach last year.
Meanwhile, Sabalenka showed her frustration by smashing her racket while her opponent celebrated.
