Tonight’s 2025 Australian Open women’s singles Final at Rod Laver Arena saw one incredible contest where the last two remaining players standing in this draw had to battle it out the best of all three sets for the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Trophy.
This time we got a new winner in 29-year-old Madison Keys from the US just eight years following her loss in 2017 US Open Final to her compatriot Sloane Stephenson her second ever attempt on the big dance while the reigning champion’s long two year stranglehold finally came to an unfortunate end from Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) who was forced to relinquish her Australian Open women’s champion status to first time Keys.
The final score was 3-6 to Keys, 6-2 to Sabalenka and 5-7 to Keys after just over two hours of play.
First of all, you can clearly see the disappointment there post-match by Sabalenka who never gave up all along to try and strike towards a three-peat – we know how close she was getting that job done. But again, her poor start and inconsistent serves gave Keys a really good opportunity to strike back and she’s done that with both hands which sums up Sabalenka’s night as second best.
Having made a name for herself on the hard courts, the time is now for Sabalenka to win the other grand slam tournaments such as the Roland Garros and Wimbledon – the ones she hasn’t yet won so far in her grand slam career.
There’s the Queen of Clay Court she can beat in Iga Swiatek who is currently a four-time winner, so that’s one. Plus, Wimbledon hasn’t had a consistent championship winner for a while, although the last two different champions are from Czech Republic – Sabalenka to cash in on that next moment as well.
And finally going back to the first time winner, gotta say this was Madison Key’s best career performance to date which is tonight’s women’s singles final match v Aryna Sabalenka at Rod Laver Arena.
Love her brilliant start with the first set win while she lost her way at times when Sabablenka crawled her way back from rock bottom that sets up a 3rd and final set finish shootout. And yet, Keys did not hold back as long as she’s able to reach Championship Point before she’s finally relieved to call herself a grand slam championship winner for the first time.
What’s next? Make every next game her big game and who knows if Madison Keys can be a 2 x grand slam champion once again?
On home soil would be nice with the next US Open a long while away in late August-early September as Sabalenka is also the reigning champ there. Other than that, winning Roland Garros in Paris wouldn’t be bad and Wimbledon also welcomes first-time winners too, especially in recent years so Keys can join that club herself – no doubt.
14 days done, one night to go with one more match to settle in the men’s singles Final – it’s either Jannik Sinner go back-to-back or Alexander Zverev hoping to join Keys as the next first-time AO champion.
