Aryna Sabalenka vs Madison Keys: Women’s Australian Open Final – Live | Australian Open 2025

Sabalenka 1-5 keys* (*denotes server) Wow! A short drop shot from Keys puts her up 30-0, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Sabalenka literally stares in shock as her inspired opponent soaks up the crowd. The American continues his powerful serves and holds. Twenty minutes passed and Sabalenka is down 5-1!

*Sabalenka 1-4 keys (*denotes server) Keys goes to dry off with her towel, and her husband and trainer, Bjorn Fratangelo, tells her to continue to be aggressive. She stumbles initially but then hits a huge forehand winner in the back corner. Sabalenka then hits her third double fault of the game and surrenders another break point! Can the Keys capitalize? Yes, Sabalenka gets her dropshot! Keys breaks again and leads 4-1 in the first set.

Sabalenka 1-3 keys* (*denotes server) A bad forehand from Keys is the American’s first real mistake in the match. But an ace and a fumble from Sabalenka means Keys can hold.

*Sabalenka 1-2 keys (*denotes server) Keys attacks Sabalenka’s forehand and goes up 15-0, but Sabalenka’s forehand crosscourt inside the service line is super sharp to tie it up. However, a huge forehand winner from Keys leaves her opponent staring, not knowing what to do. But a backhand at the net from Keys means the defending champion is on the board.

Sabalenka 0-2 keys* (*denotes server) Sabalenka makes a backhand on Keys’ first serve, and after a high volley, the world no. 14 it to 40-30. Sabalenka goes wide in the final point and what an excellent service game from Keys to back up the early break.

*Sabalenka 0-1 keys (*denotes server) Sabalenka starts with a double fault, but a rocket of a forehand down the line makes it 15-15. But the Belarusian double fault fails again and Keys faces a break point … the American works Sabalenka into the corner and breaks the champion’s serve. Early unexpected nerves from Sabalenka! Did she get it out of her system?

Sabalenka gets the final started with her serve. And play…

Both players are now out on the pitch after receiving a warm reception from the fans, photos have been taken and now the warm-up starts. The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup is on the side, arriving with former Australian tennis player Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

They are now opening the roof at the Rod Laver arena, and soon both players will enter the field for the “walk of champions” in front of 14,820 fans.

Sabalenka is 4-1 against Keys, with her most memorable win against the American coming in the 2023 US Open semi-finals. Keys led the Belarusian 6-0, 5-3 before Sabalenka came back to win 0-6, 7- 6 (1), 7-6 (5), preventing Keys from reaching the final in front of a home crowd.

I think one of the big things after I lost to Aryna at the US Open, I felt like I was trying to play it safe and I didn’t play the way I wanted to in the big moments. It felt so bad. I just felt like if I can go out and do whatever I want and really just, again, be uncomfortable at times and just actually go for it and continue to play like I’m playing my best tennis and I’m losing , then can walk away and say, ‘OK, I did my best, she beat me, that’s fine.’

I didn’t want to be in the same situation where I kind of looked back on it and thought, man, I should have gone for it. I didn’t want to regret not really putting it all out there.

Keys’ first grand slam final was a loss to Sloane Stephens at the 2017 US Open, and by repeating the feat in Australia, she has become the player with the most slam appearances between her first and second major finals (25), achieving the previous grade of 24 set by Marion Bartoli and Amelie Mauresmo.

The 29-year-old is the oldest women’s singles finalist in Melbourne since the Williams sisters in 2017 and has beaten two top 10 opponents during her run to today’s final (Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek).

Paula Badosa, Sabalenka’s latest victim in the semi-finals, compared playing her close friend to an unbeatable video game. “With Aryna, it’s more like winners everywhere. Sometimes you’re like, I don’t know, I’m just walking around the court because I feel like she’s playing a PlayStation.”

World no. 1 would tie the Open Era record of three consecutive titles held by Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Martina Hingis with a win against Keys.

She opened her season with the title at the Brisbane International and is 11-0 so far this year.

Tumaini Carayol is in Melbourne Park and writes in his preview:

Returning to Rod Laver Arena to face two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, Keys will take to the court with plenty of reasons to be nervous, with memories of her first Grand Slam final experience and a painful loss in three sets. to the Belarusian in the semifinals of the 2023 US Open. But with time, introspection and 16 years of experience behind her, Keys has learned to accept the stress that comes with these lofty occasions.

Preamble