Aryna Sabalenka says what Madison Keys did in the Australian Open final which was ‘really crazy’

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Aryna Sabalenka has fallen just short in clinching a third successive Australian Open title, having lost to Madison Keys in the final.

Coco Gauff is delighted for Keys, with the 19th seed having beaten WTA number one Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in Melbourne.

Keys has now won her very first Grand Slam title, while Sabalenka has come under fire from fans for an angry post-match reaction.

The Belarusian was chasing an Australian Open hat-trick and a fourth career Grand Slam title, having also tasted success at the US Open.

Keys meanwhile has a US Open final loss to her name, but used all of her power and experience to come out on top on the biggest stage this time around.

Aryna Sabalenka says Madison Keys’ ball depths were ‘really crazy’ in Australian Open final

Rod Laver Arena played host to the thrilling battle, with Sabalenka asked in her post-match press conference if it came down to Keys’ balls landing in and there being nothing the Belarusian could do about it.

“I mean, if she can play consistently like that, it’s not much you can do,” said the world number one. “I mean, of course, I know how to play against her, but in this match I couldn’t really do my stuff.

READ MORE: Madison Keys’ coach says what Aryna Sabalenka does that reminds him of Roger Federer and Serena Williams

“She just played incredible. It seems like she was overhitting everything. The depths of the balls were really crazy. I was trying my best. Obviously didn’t work well.”

Aryna Sabalenka says Madison Keys played ‘super aggressive’ to win first set

Keys was shocking everyone with her phenomenal Australian Open run before the final, which included top 10 wins over Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina.

The American also made it past Elina Svitolina and compatriot Danielle Collins in Melbourne, and simply didn’t lose her momentum throughout the entire tournament.

READ MORE: Madison Keys sets new all-time WTA record after beating Aryna Sabalenka to win the Australian Open

Sabalenka then became her final victim despite the Belarusian having dominated the hard court scene in recent times, winning the 2023 and 2024 Australian Opens and indeed the 2024 US Open.

But Keys took the early momentum in the final clash, storming into a first set lead, with Sabalenka also asked what felt particularly different in that set.

“Well, I think she played super aggressive,” she said. “It seemed like everything was going her way. I was just trying to put the ball back. Couldn’t really play my aggressive tennis and didn’t feel my serve that well. The return was off.

“Then in the second set I kind of got my rhythm back. From the second set, I would say the real tennis match started.”