Madison Keys beats Aryna Sabalenka: 2025 Australian Open final result as Keys pulls off shock to win maiden major title

LAURA ROBSON: "All the stuff she’s been through off the court in the last six months from Wimbledon onwards has been so tough for her, so to now lift the trophy in what was a topsy turvy match, so nerve wracking. 18 months ago she wouldn’t have won and just to think back to that final eight years ago in the US Open, and how different tonight was. I could not be prouder of the performance she put on."

JIM COURIER: "The win over Swiatek in the final set breaker and this one, there were moments at the end of the match she stepped up and dominated and those are moments that would have escaped her in her past life. My goodness was she dominant when she needed to be, she believed this time would be different and it was."

MATS WILANDER: "Unbelievably cool to see someone at that age and the journey she has been through, People talked about her being the next Serena Williams and she hasn’t quite done it all the way. And she won this match, it wasn’t that Sabalenka lost it. In the beginning she was playing unbelievable well then Sabalenka came back and then at the end she won it with winners.TH: She’s had to win five three set matches, she had to play the number two in the world and save match points and then the world No. 1. And then to break and take the title was incredible to see."

Watch and stream the 2025 Australian Open live on Eurosport and discovery+

"Firstly bear with me, there is no way I get through this without tears.

"Aryna - unbelievable play, I’m glad I finally got you back! (a reference to throwing away a winning position at the 2023 US Open).

"Unbelievable tennis, you are so tough to play and we always have the craziest matches. Congratulations to you and your team for an amazing Grand Slam run.

"Thank you to everyone who came out and cheered the last two weeks. I always feel so at home here. I made my first Slam semi-final here, so now to have won my first Grand Slam here means so much to me.

"Thank you to my team ... and this is where I’m going to cry. I have wanted this for so long, I have been to one other Grand Slam final and it did not go my way and I didn’t know if I’d ever get back to this position to try and win a trophy again.

"But my team believed in me every step of the way, so thank you so much.

"Last year was so tough with some really bad injuries and I didn’t know if I was going to be able to do it again, so to be here with the trophy and to do it with my husband, who is dazed and confused over there...!

"I just want to say thank you so much, I am so appreciative to every single person who helped me continue to believe in myself, helped me push on to achieve this dream and I cannot wait to see you all next year."

Watch and stream the 2025 Australian Open live on Eurosport and discovery+

"Madison, wow, what a tournament, you have been fighting really hard to get this trophy.

"Congrats to you and your team, you really well deserved it...

"I really feel like home every time I’m here, even though I didn’t get it this year, I’ll come back stronger and I’ll do my best next year.

"Thank you guys for an amazing atmosphere throughout the two weeks. I don’t want to see [my team] for the next week I really hate you (joking)... no thank you for everything you are doing for me blah blah blah.

"No, we did our best, but Madison was playing incredible. I really couldn’t do anything in this match. Next time I play against Madison, I will bring a barricade!

"Anyway I love you, even if I lost."

Stream the 2025 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Madison Keys can't quite believe what has just happened.

Stream the 2025 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Glory for Maddy but not a good reaction from the three-time major winner, Aryna.

DURIE: "Wow. It’s a shame to see that from Sabalenka because respect to Madison Keys, the way she went about it, the belief she had in herself at the end, great to see, congratulations."

CAVADAY: "She was keeping it together all the way through the final, but now the emotions can come out for both. What a journey it has been for Keys. And in terms of holding her nerve and not letting her matches be so up and down, that is what has held her back from taking that final step."

DURIE: "A lesson for everyone out there to keep fighting, to believe in yourself, and to have the guts to do it and win a Grand Slam, just amazing."

CAVADAY: "A little disappointing to see that reaction from Sabalenka, she’s done enough winning in her career to know how to lose as well. But I suppose it does just show what it means to everyone, even going for three in a row as Sabalenka was but it wasn’t to be."

DURIE: "It’s a shame that she did that because I know emotions are running high."

CAVADAY: "But it just takes away from the moment for Maddy."

Stream the 2025 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Keys's title run started with wins over her compatriot Ann Li and then Romanian qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the first two rounds, before the 29-year-old beat No.10 seed Danielle Collins, No.6 seed Elena Rybakina, No.28 seed Elina Svitolina, No.2 seed Iga Swiatek and now World No.1 and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka!

Stream the 2025 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Stream the 2025 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Madison Keys is a Grand Slam champion for the first time!

The American No.19 seed breaks with a stunning forehand on her second match point to clinch a famous, snapping the World No.1’s imperious 20-match run of success Down Under, to triumph in two hours and two minutes.

It sees the 29-year-old follow up her title in Adelaide with the biggest of her career, stretching her winning streak to 12 matches and ending two-time champion Sabalenka’s bid for a historic three-peat in Melbourne.

It banishes the painful memories of her maiden major final in 2017 and will see her rise to seventh in the WTA rankings on Monday.

Keys offers a low-key fist pump to herself as a beastly return forces a forehand shank.

The American drills a stunning backhand return for 0-30 and suddenly Aryna looks worried.

The No.19 seed misses a similar attempt, but then defends brilliantly to make Saba play over and over before dumping a forehand into the net.

It’s TWO match points for Keys…

The first goes begging as a return drops wide off a thumping first serve… but she gets it done on the second with a crosscourt forehand! Wow!

Sabalenka threatens at 15-30 with a rocket forehand that clips the rear edge of the baseline.

Keys comes rushing back, flashing a forehand winner down the line and then repeating the trick off that flank with a superb wrong-footer.

The American again bellows out a big ‘Come on!’ as she guarantees herself the minimum of a match tie-break.

The tension is clear as Aryna drills a tight backhand low into the net to drop the opening point.

Keys has a big look at 0-30 but can’t make it count and the Belarusian visibly settles when a plus-one forehand steers her in front.

Maddy gets to 40-30 but can’t turn the screw by making deuce as a clutch serve keeps Aryna alive and kicking in this final!

She. Will. Not. Blink.

Sabalenka does her best to try and apply some pressure, but Keys resists, keeping her at arm’s length throughout a determined hold to 30.

Aryan must now hold to stay in the hunt for the Three-peat.

There’s a half chance for Maddy in the opening point, but she doesn’t do enough with a mid-court forehand or a block volley and Saba’s drilled pass to the body works a treat.

The Belarusian doesn’t look back from there, adjusting majestically to glide away a volley and then drilling a forehand down the line to snare the clean hold and tie the third at four apiece.

Keys guns the first serve to surge 30-0 to the good but when it goes AWOL Sabalenka unleashes on the return and zaps away a rasping forehand.

Maddy drags a poorly-timed backhand into the net off the plus-one to feel some heat at 30-30, but regains the initiative with a super forehand winner and then saves the best until last, letting out a big ‘Come on!’, as she booms a backhand winner down the line.

Sabalenka lands a backhand winner on the stretch for what is described as one of her best shots of the match by Durie and Cavaday on Eurosport Comms.

It’s hugely impressive from the three-time major winner as she marauds through a clean hold to leave us waiting for a breakthrough moment in this decider.

Aryna offers one of those unimpressed smiles that’s not quite a smile as Keys’ improvised and perhaps fortuitous backhand overhead on the stretch facing away from the net catches the outside of the line.

In contrast, Maddy loves it and soaks up the jubilant reaction of the crowd.

On Eurosport Comms, Durie suggests the giggle and smile from the American helped free her up and she roars away from there to clock up a hold to 15 from 0-15 down.  

Keys rips one red-hot return low to Sabalenka’s forehand to force an error wide.

It was a tactic that paid huge dividends in the first set, but the Belarusian has been finding more first serves since and it’s just the one highlight for Maddy on this occasion as Saba powers level again with a hold to 15.

Sabalenka unleashes a backhand winner and it could be 'panic stations' at 0-30 in a decider for some – but not Madison Keys.

The No.19 seed stays calm, hitting with clean, powerful depth and then changing it up with a lovely low slice that Saba just can’t dig out.

It helps the American reel off four points in a row and keep her nose in front early in this decider.

Aryan follows suit, shrugging off a rare drop-shot fail with a third ace and another booming forehand winner to quickly move level with a game to 15.