Madison Keys ends a long drought to claim her first major title
In short: After years of waiting, Madison Keys orchestrated a stunning run at the 2025 Australian Open. By toppling the world's elite, she didn't just win a trophy; she rewrote the record books for gap between major finals and achieved a feat rarely seen in the Open Era.
The 2025 Australian Open women's singles final featured a dramatic clash between Madison Keys and the two-time defending champion, Aryna Sabalenka. In a grueling three-set battle, Keys emerged victorious with a score of 6–3, 2–6, 7–5. This victory marked Keys' first major singles title and was characterized by her resilience, notably saving a match point during her semifinal victory against Iga Świątek.
Keys' path to the trophy was statistically extraordinary. She became only the fourth woman in the Open Era to defeat four top-10 seeds on her way to a major title, joining the ranks of Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1980 Wimbledon), Mary Pierce (1995 Australian Open), and Li Na (2011 French Open). Furthermore, her victory was a significant upset in terms of prestige, as she was the lowest-ranked player to secure the title since Serena Williams did so in 2007.
The tournament also set a new milestone for longevity and persistence. This final appearance set a new Open Era benchmark for the greatest time elapsed between two major championship matches for a female player. She surpassed the previous seven-year record held by Amélie Mauresmo, who went from the 1999 to the 2006 Australian Opens, and Victoria Azarenka, who spanned from the 2013 to the 2020 US Opens. While Sabalenka's loss ended her bid for a third consecutive Australian Open title—a feat last achieved by Martina Hingis in 1999—she managed to retain her world No. 1 ranking following Świątek's semifinal exit.
The tournament bracket displayed surprising strength; Eva Lys made history as the inaugural lucky loser to advance to the women's singles fourth round at this event during the Open Era, and just the sixth person to achieve such a fourth-round feat at any major in that period.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2025 Australian Open – Women's singles
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