Madison Keys admits there’s one point during the Australian Open final which she still can’t believe when she watches it back

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Madison Keys is finally making a return to the court, with the Australian Open champion in the main draw at Indian Wells.

Andrea Petkovic says Keys will be dangerous at Indian Wells 2025, with the latter playing her first event since Melbourne.

Keys stormed to the Australian Open title in January, having lost her only other Grand Slam final appearance at the 2017 US Open.

The American beat two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the final of the Australian Open, where she was the 19th seed.

Sabalenka was the top seed, with Keys also beating second and sixth seeds Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina respectively.

Madison Keys still can’t believe Australian Open return shot vs Aryna Sabalenka

She now turns her focus to Indian Wells, but has also managed to share insight from her Australian Open final with former professional Rennae Stubbs.

“I have watched some highlights but I still haven’t actually sat there and just watched it fully,” Keys said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.

READ MORE: Watch as Madison Keys returns to practice at Indian Wells and takes on Elena Rybakina in a training match

“There was definitely some highlights, and I feel like there are a few points which are just on replay in my head.

“The one I still cannot believe is 5-5, 30-30 in the third. The serve followed by the return and I remember it. Even how I reacted after the point. I was like oh that was a big point.”

Madison Keys hits one of the best shots of her career in Australian Open final

Not only was it a huge point, but it was a stunning shot from Keys, who was under real pressure at the time.

She sent her first serve of 183km/h long, with her second coming in at 149km/h, which was immediately fired back by a strong Sabalenka forehand.

READ MORE: America have another WTA star who can rival Coco Gauff and Madison Keys for future Grand Slam titles after reaching career-high rank

But Keys managed to guide a stunning forehand effort back across the court, which looked effortless but was anything but.

The return from a somewhat unorthodox stance was truly special, and undoubtedly gave the American huge confidence to go on and win the match.

Australian Open champion Keys now has a bye in the first round of Indian Wells, where qualifying is well underway.

She has been drawn to face either Jessica Bouzas Maneiro or Anastasia Potapova in round two, having fallen in the third round in 2024.