Aryna Sabalenka promises Madison Keys what she’s going to do next time she faces her after losing in Australian Open final

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Madison Keys stunned Aryna Sabalenka in three sets to win her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

Competing in her second Grand Slam final, eight years after her first, Keys took down the world number one in a thrilling contest, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.

Beating Sabalenka in Melbourne looked like a formidable task ahead of the match, considering the Belarussian was a two-time defending champion down under, but Keys rose to the occasion, overpowering her opponent.

It was another excellent match on the WTA Tour, that showcased the very best of what women’s tennis has to offer, as two of its top stars put on a clinic on Rod Laver Arena.

For Sabalenka, the ‘three-peat’ just wasn’t meant to be, as her sensational Australian Open run came to an end at the hands of Keys.

After the match, the 26-year-old made a promise to Keys, as she looked ahead to their next meeting.

Aryna Sabalenka promises Madison Keys ‘she will bring better tennis’ next time after Australian Open loss

During her runners-up speech, world number one Sabalenka jokingly slammed her coaching team after the loss.

“Should I say anything to my team?” she said.

“As always that is your fault, guys, I don’t want to see you for the next week, I really hate you.

“No, thank you so much for everything you do for me and blah, blah blah.”

Sabalenka went on to promise her opponent that she’ll up her game for the next time they play one another.

“I think we did our best but Madison [Keys] was playing incredible, I really couldn’t do anything in this match,” she said.

“Next time I play against Madison, I will bring better tennis.

“Of course, sending love to my team – even though we lost.”

The Belarussian was full of praise for the 29-year-old, who took down five seeded players including world number two Iga Swiatek on her way to the title.

“Madison, wow, what a tournament, you’ve been fighting really hard to get this trophy, you played unbelievable tennis, you crushed this tonight,” she said.

“Congrats to you and your team, it’s really well deserved, enjoy the celebrations, enjoy the really fun part.”

Keys converted her second Championship point, as she lifted her arms aloft on Rod Laver Arena, beating the world number one in three sets.

Aryna Sabalenka loses at the Australian Open for the first time in 1,099 days

With her defeat to Keys, Sabalenka lost her first match at the Australian Open since 2022, when she fell to Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi in three sets.

The Belarussian had won 20 matches since then, which saw her pick up two Major titles, before eventually suffering defeat once more in 2025.

Her defeat to Kanepi three years ago was another thrilling encounter, as she came up just short in a third set tie-breaker at Margaret Court Arena.

During her run of 20 wins at Melbourne Park, Sabalenka took down a whole host of top-seeds, and big names as she dominated down under.

• 2023 Australian Open (4R) beat [12] Belinda Bencic
• 2023 Australian Open (F) beat [22] Elena Rybakina
• 2024 Australian Open (QF) beat [9] Barbora Krejcikova
• 2024 Australian Open (SF) beat [4] Coco Gauff
• 2024 Australian Open (F) beat [12] Qinwen Zheng
• 2025 Australian Open (SF) beat [11] Paula Badosa

Keys’ run to the title this year saw her take down a similarly impressive list of names, as she stormed to her first Major title.

Not only did Keys save match points against Swiatek in the semi-finals, but she went to a deciding set in all but two of her matches at this year’s tournament.

Beating four top-ten seeds on the way to the title, Keys truly announced herself as one of the biggest names in the sport.

Keys will enjoy her moment in Melbourne, but will soon set her sights on another Grand Slam, as the French Open begins on May, 25.