After years of hard work and determination, 2025 was the year when Madison Keys made history by winning the Australian Open. This was her first Grand Slam title and she’s now set up for future success. The American demonstrated how she can play a powerful game, with mental toughness, and the ability to handle pressure present too.
This win was a milestone in her career, showing that she was capable of competing with, and beating, the best players in the world. Her journey to victory was far from straightforward, but her focus allowed her to deliver her best tennis at a time that it really mattered.
A Strong Start in the Early Rounds
At the start of the tournament, even sports odds API from Odds88 would probably not have been wagering on a Keys win. That soon changed, as she began with a solid win over Ann Li, winning in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. Round two was tougher when she came up against the Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Dropping the second set, she got her game back on track and dominated the third and final set.
The third round saw her coming face-to-face with fellow American, and 10th seed, Danielle Collins. Known for her aggressive style, Collins was never going to be an easy opponent, but Keys was smart with her play and won 6-6,6-4, moving comfortably to the 4th round.
Fighting Through the Middle Rounds
The 4th round was one of the biggest challenges that Keys had faced. It was a matchup against the world number 6, Elena Rybakina. She had been in great form and most bettors would have been sure of a win for the Kazakh player.
Keys surprised everyone by taking the first set but the second saw Rybakina fighting back. In the final set, Keys remained aggressive and managed to keep her nerves under control. Winning this match saw her receive a huge confidence boost as she headed to the quarterfinals.
Up next, it was 28th seed Elina Svitolina. The first set didn’t go Keys’ way as she lost 3-6. There was no panic here though and she simply adapted her strategy, hitting deeper shots, and getting closer to the net more often. This change in strategy worked, with Keys winning the next 2 sets 6-3, 6-4. This win saw her heading to the semifinals.
Semi final Battle Against Swiatek
The semis were never going to be easy for Keys, as she went on to face the world number 2, Iga Swiatek. The latter was the clear favourite to win the whole tournament, but Keys certainly showed that she was ready for the challenge.
It’s fair to say that this battle was intense. It was Swiatek who edged it in the first set, taking it 7-5. However, set 2 was nothing short of formidable for Keys as she completely dominated and secured the win 6-1. The 3rd and deciding set was as close as it could possibly be. Both players were pushed to their limits, but it was Keys that started to take the edge. Having saved a match point, the match went to a deciding tiebreak.
The tiebreak was as close as the entire match had been. Keys held her nerve and played aggressively. This saw her secure a 10-8 as she booked her place in the Australian Open final.
The Final Vs the World Number 1
Keys has just secured her greatest victory and then headed to the final to face the world number 1, Aryna Sabalenka who was also the defending champion. Sabalenka had dominated every match she had played through the tournament so far, but Keys entered the final with a new found sense of confidence.
Keys’ big serve and powerful forehand saw her get off to a great start, securing the first set 6-3. The second set saw Sabalenka stepping up, playing with aggression, and winning the 2nd 6-2.
Going into the 3rd, Keys seemed remarkably calm and composed. She continued to play aggressively, but she also showed great tennis intelligence by waiting for the right moments to attack. At 6-5, she managed to break Sabalenka’s serve and claimed her first Grand Slam.
An Historic Victory
Keys’ victory has gone down as one of the most impressive in recent history. Her win saw her become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2005 to win the Australian Open after beating the World number 1 and the world number 2.
At the age of 29, she has also become the oldest first-time winner of the Australian Open. Her journey to achieve this was far from easy, having beaten 4 top 10 players along the way.
Keys displayed that her game was powerful, but she also demonstrated patience and the ability to perform under pressure. This is a victory that will be remembered for years to come.
