Madison Keys will still be on cloud nine after her Australian Open victory, having battled past Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
Sabalenka thinks Keys played ‘incredible’ in their two-hour, two-minute match at Rod Laver Arena, which the latter won 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
Belarusian star Sabalenka thanked fans after her final loss, having fallen just short of a third successive Australian Open title.
The WTA number one was chasing a fourth career Grand Slam title, while Keys has just won her first, having lost the 2017 US Open final.
She clinched the trophy with a superb forehand winner, one of 13 such shots throughout the fantastic performance.
Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova message Madison Keys after Australian Open win
Keys won’t forget the outcome and the display in a hurry, with plenty of former players having been sending their regards to the world number 14.
“Congratulations to Madison Keys on winning the Australian Open women’s singles title!” Billie Jean King wrote on X. “This is her 10th title and her very first Grand Slam! And cheers to Aryna Sabalenka on an incredible run.”
Fellow legend Martina Navratilova meanwhile commented on Madison Keys’ post on X that read “I did it,” with the message: “You most certainly did – biggest congrats Madison – a well-deserved win!!! Talk about perseverance and guts – my hat is off to you!!!”
Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati delighted for Madison Keys after Australian Open win
Despite being seeded 19th at the Australian Open and handed one of the most difficult draws in Melbourne, Keys stormed to her maiden Grand Slam title.
Unlike the likes of WTA top three Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, Keys wasn’t exactly storming to straight set victories in rapid time.
The American was instead battling to hard-fought wins, although there was a fantastic straight set win over compatriot and tenth seed Danielle Collins.
Hugely impressive fights against top 10 players Elena Rybakina and Swiatek followed, with the 29-year-old simply not giving up in Melbourne.
And that attitude was again on show in the final against Sabalenka, who threatened a comeback after Keys clinched the opening set.
But the American held on, and has also now received a message from her compatriot and former player Jennifer Capriati, who wrote on X: “Madison Keys congratulations! So very happy for you. The harder the path, the sweeter the victory!”
And another former women’s star in Lindsay Davenport has also reacted to the win, simply writing on X: “No words.”
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