Aryna Sabalenka v Madison Keys: women’s Australian Open final – live | Australian Open 2025
Main events
They are now opening the roof of Rod Laver Arena, and soon both players will make their way onto the field for the ‘Walk of Champions’ in front of 14,820 fans.
Sabalenka won 4-1 over Keys, and her memorable victory over the American player was in the semi-finals of the US Open 2023. Keys led the Belarusian 6-0, 5-3, before Sabalenka came back to win 0-6, 7-6 (1), 7- 6 (5), to prevent Keys from reaching the final in front of her fans.
I think one of the big things, after losing to Arena at the US Open, I felt like I tried to play it safe, and I didn’t play the way I wanted to in the big moments. I felt bad. I felt like if I could go out and do what I wanted to do, and really, again, I get uncomfortable sometimes and actually do that and continue to play the way I play my best tennis, and lose, and then I would lose that she could walk away and say, ” “Okay, I did my best, you hit me, that’s good.”
I didn’t want to be in the same position where I looked back and thought, man, I should have done that. I didn’t want to feel any regrets about not putting it all out there.
Keys’ first Grand Slam final was a loss to Sloane Stephens at the 2017 US Open and by repeating the feat in Australia, she became the player with the most Grand Slam appearances between her first and second Grand Slam finals (25), surpassing the mark The precedent for 24 was set by Marion Bartoli and Amelie Mauresmo.
The 29-year-old is the oldest Melbourne women’s singles finalist since the Williams sisters in 2017 and has defeated two top 10 competitors during her run to today’s final (Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek).
Paula Badosa, Sabalenka’s final victim in the semi-finals, likened playing with her best friend to an unbeatable video game. “With Arena, it’s like winners everywhere. Sometimes, I don’t know, I’m just walking around the court because I feel like she’s playing PlayStation.”
The world number one will equal the Open Era record of three consecutive titles held by Margaret Court, Yvonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Martina Hingis with her win over Keys.
She opened her season with a title at the Brisbane International and is 11-0 so far this year.
Tumaini Carayol is at Melbourne Park and writes in his preview:
As she returns to Rod Laver Arena to face two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, Keys will take to the court with plenty of reason to be nervous, with memories of her first Grand Slam final and an agonizing three-set loss. to Belarusian in US Open 2023 semi-finals. But with time, reflection and 16 years of experience, Keys has learned to accept the pressure that comes with these lofty occasions.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the coverage of the women’s singles match Australian Open last.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is on a 20-game winning streak in Melbourne, winning all but two of her matches in straight sets. She is bidding to become the first woman to win three Grand Slam titles since Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999.
Standing in her way is Madison Keys, who recently eliminated Iga Swiatek in the first women’s semifinal to be decided by a 10-point margin. The world number 14 will be hoping all her hard work so far will lead to her first title.
Sabalenka and Keys are two of the strongest hitters in the game, and we can expect a fast-paced final with plenty of fast serves and forehands.
The expected start time in Melbourne is 7.30pm AEST / It’s 8.30am GMT. Join me.
