America’s Madison Keys won her first Grand Slam title by defeating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in the women’s singles final of the Australian Open on Saturday. The 29-year-old defeated second-ranked Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals, before defeating top-ranked Sabalenka in the final.
In this way, Madison Keys has become the first American player after Serena Williams to defeat the top two ranked players at Melbourne Park. Serena did this feat in 2005. Keys, who was ranked 14th in the rankings, was seeded 19th in this tournament.
This was his second Grand Slam final after finishing runner-up in the US Open 2017. With this, Keys prevented Sabalenka from equaling Martina Hingis by scoring a hat-trick of title wins in the Australian Open. Hingis became its champion three consecutive times from 1997 to 1999.
It rained money after becoming the winner
World number 1 Aryna Sabalenka had made it to the final of the Australian Open by winning 11 consecutive matches. Australian Open is the first Grand Slam of the season. By reaching the finals, Sabalenka and Keys secured 1,300 points and $1,900,000. Madison Keys will receive 2,000 points and $3,500,000 if she becomes the winner.
In Indian rupees this amount is more than Rs 30 crore 17 lakh. Let us tell you, Kolkata got 20 crores for becoming IPL 2024 champion, whereas in IPL Nimali, Rishabh Pant got 27 crores and Madison Keys has won even more prize money than this.
Sabalenka, who was successful in making it to the final, will depart from Melbourne Park maintaining her No. 1 ranking. Keys has ensured a return to the top 10 in the rankings for the first time since 2023. With a win on Saturday, she will leave behind her career-high ranking of No. 7, which she achieved in 2016.
Sabalenka tired of making many records
Sabalenka and Keys emerged as two of the best players in the first two weeks of the season at the Australian Open. Both had won Hologic WTA Tour tournaments before coming to Melbourne, with Sabalenka starting her season with a title at the Brisbane International in Week 1. Keys won the Adelaide International by defeating Jessica Pegula in Week 2.
Sabalenka had a chance to score a historic title hat-trick in the Australian Open. The last woman to win the Australian Open three years in a row was Hingis, who won the title from 1997 to 1999.
Sabalenka also lost the chance to become the first woman to win three consecutive hard-court Grand Slam titles in this century. The last woman to achieve this feat was Hingis, who won the 1997 Australian Open, 1997 US Open and 1998 Australian Open. Only three women have won three consecutive hard-court majors in the Open Era.
(with inputs from agency)
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