Mats Wilander admits why he was ‘worried’ about Madison Keys in Australian Open final before she managed to win in deciding set

Follow us on Google Discover

Madison Keys battled through in three sets to win her first Major title at the Australian Open.

In a thrilling encounter on Rod Laver Arena, Keys beat Aryna Sabalenka to win the title in front of a packed-out crowd.

Keys was competing in her second Major final, having come up short against fellow American Sloane Stephens in New York eight years ago.

This time, there was no stopping her, as two-time defending champion Sabalenka was stunned by the big-hitting 29-year-old.

Keys had taken the first set of the Australian Open final in convincing fashion, 6-3, before Sabalenka took control to level things up, 6-3, 2-6.

Speaking after the match, an ATP Tour legend said what he thought might happen to Keys after she dropped the second set.

Mats Wilander was worried Madison Keys had lost her ‘timing’ before winning the Australian Open title

Speaking to Eurosport, seven-time Major champion Mats Wilander revealed what he was worried about ahead of the deciding set between Keys and Sabalenka.

“I worried that she wasn’t going to get back that timing she had in the first set and Aryna [Sabalenka] started mixing it up a bit more and hit a few more drop shots,” said Wilander.

“I mean, we haven’t seen Madison Keys do this before.

“I think most people thought after the second set that the momentum had switched completely but her serve came back.

“Her serve in the first set was absolutely incredible but then it dropped big time in the second set and that made such a difference in the third.”

Keys’ serving stats fluctuated throughout the match, but remained solid during a tight third set, helping her secure the win.

Former world number four Tim Henman argued that Sabalenka’s second set success was less thanks to Keys’ level dropping, and more from the Belarussian raising her game.

“I think an important element as well is that in the second set a lot of it was Sabalenka’s great play,” he said.

“Keys, perhaps, didn’t play quite as well as she did in the first but there wasn’t suddenly a huge drop off.

“So I think Keys was able to really dominate from the word go and take that first set, Sabalenka’s response was impressive but in that third set it really was all to play for.”

Keys eventually won 7-5 in the third, lifting the trophy after one of the best Grand Slam finals in recent memory.

Madison Keys becomes 15th active WTA star to win a Grand Slam title

With her win in Melbourne, Keys became the 15th active woman to win a Major title and just the fourth American.

Her three fellow Americans have all won just one Grand Slam title, with Keys no doubt hoping to add a second later this year.

Only six active women on the WTA Tour have won multiple Grand Slam titles, with nine others picking up just one.

Things are very different in men’s tennis where Daniil Medvedev and Marin Cilic are the only two players to have won a singular Major title.

It remains to be seen if Keys can add another Grand Slam to her collection, but she’ll certainly want to celebrate the addition of the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup to her trophy cabinet first.

Keys will likely return to Grand Slam action at the French Open, in Paris, which begins on Sunday, May 25.