In a thrilling upset at the Australian Open, American Madison Keys defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to claim her first Grand Slam title. The match, held at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, concluded with a final score of 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
Sabalenka, aiming to secure her third consecutive Australian Open championship, displayed visible frustration after the loss. Following the customary handshake with Keys and the umpire, she slammed her racket on the bench and retreated to the locker room with a towel covering her face.
During the post-match press conference, Sabalenka acknowledged her disappointment, stating, "There definitely was a bit of frustration, because I was so close to achieve something crazy." She explained her need to release negative emotions to maintain composure during her speech. She clarified that venting her frustration allowed her to address the situation respectfully.
Later, Sabalenka was seen lightheartedly interacting with her team, jokingly blaming them for the loss. However, she returned to a serious tone when discussing Keys' performance, praising her incredible play and promising to bring better tennis to their next encounter.
Keys, at 29, expressed her disbelief at winning her first Grand Slam, admitting that she had previously doubted it would ever happen. She shared that she had carried the weight of expectation for years but had finally reached a point of self-acceptance, regardless of winning a major title. Keys emphasized that achieving this victory allowed her to feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in her career.
