Serena Williams’ former coach predicts what will happen on the WTA Tour after Madison Keys’ Australian Open win

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Madison Keys shocked the world by winning her first Grand Slam title at this year’s Australian Open.

After years of heartbreak Keys finally got it done on the big occasion, as she lifted the trophy on Rod Laver Arena.

Keys beat Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set classic to win the Australian Open, in her 46th appearance at a Major tournament.

The American star had enjoyed a sensational run to the title, beating top-ten stars Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek, on her way to victory.

Her Australian Open performance truly showed that anything can happen in tennis, and one tennis coach has now predicted how her victory will affect her WTA rivals.

Rick Macci predicts Madison Keys’ Australian Open win will inspire other WTA stars to Grand Slam success

Serena Williams’ former coach Rick Macci took to X to share his thoughts on Keys’ win in Melbourne.

“As I said at the start of the Aussie Open on the WTA side was wide open,” he said.

“Nobody predicted Madison [Keys] would have the Keys to drive to victory.

“Her performance will ignite and motivate unreal belief in other players, if she can do it, I can do it.”

Having lost the US Open final to Sloane Stephens eight years earlier, some had wondered if Keys would ever return to a Grand Slam final.

She made sure to capitalize on her opportunity this time, as she clinched the title after one of the most memorable performances in recent years.

Macci also said that Keys’ win served as a welcome reminder that life isn’t all about how you start.

“Always remember in life and in sports it is not where you start it is where you finish,” he said.

“Madison cracks the code and finds the championship Keys to her first Grand Slam title.”

He also predicted that the 29-year-old’s win won’t be a ‘one-off’, and that fans should expect to see Keys competing at the highest level for the remainder of her career.

“Her 30th birthday is around the corner in February,” said Macci.

“But with new Keys that have unlocked a calmer inner belief, Madison has now went from pretender to contender for the rest of her career.”

Who are the best players on the WTA Tour to have never won a Grand Slam title?

Macci suggested that Keys’ win would ‘motivate’ others to win their first Grand Slam titles, but who are the top stars on the WTA Tour yet to win a Major?

Of the ten top-ranked players yet to win a Major title, nine of them have at least reached the last four of a Grand Slam.

Therefore, you would expect it to be just a matter of time before they get over the line and lift a trophy for the first time just as Keys did earlier this month.

Jasmine Paolini is arguably the most successful player yet to win a Slam, having reached two Major finals in 2024.

• 2024 French Open F – Lost to Iga Swiatek, 2-6, 1-6
• 2024 Wimbledon F – Lost to Barbora Krejcikova, 2-6, 6-2, 4-6.

Paolini’s defeat to Barbora Krejcikova in the Wimbledon final was perhaps the most devastating of her two Slam final losses, as she came just a set away from victory.

The 29-year-old Italian battled hard throughout but was unable to prevent her Czech opponent from doubling her Slam tally.

She was one of three WTA stars who made their first Slam finals in 2024, as Jessica Pegula and Qinwen Zheng both came up short against Sabalenka.

Similarly to Paolini, they both lost in the early rounds of this year’s Australian Open, with all three players failing to reach the fourth round at Melbourne Park.

They’ll certainly hope to get back on track when Grand Slam tennis returns at the French Open, which begins on Sunday, May 25.