By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday 25 January 2025
10 years after reaching her first Grand Slam semi-final in Melbourne, 29-year-old Madison Keys has upped the ante. She defeated Aryna Sabalenka to win her first major title on Sunday night in Melbourne, making history as the fifth American woman to win the Aussie Open since 2000.
Here’s a look inside the numbers of Keys’ crowning achievement:
29 – The age of keys. She is the oldest first-time women’s Grand Slam champion in the Open Era, behind only Flavia Penneta (33), Ann Jones (30), Francisco Schiavone (29).
46 – Keys was playing her 46th Grand Slam tournament. Only two women have taken longer to win their first major title – Flavia Pennetta won the 2015 US Open in her 49th major appearance, while Marion Bartoli won Wimbledon in her 47th Grand draw The main slam.
Keys is also the second-oldest player to win her first Australian Open title in the Open Era. Only Li Na, who won the title in 2014 at the age of 31.
2005 – Winning against the No.1 and No.2 ranked players, Keys is the first woman to win the Australian Open to do so since Serena Williams in 2005. She is the first woman to win a major by defeating the No.1 in world and #2 ranked players since Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2009.
7 – Keys returns to a career-high ranking of No. 7. She is back in the Top 10 for the first time since January 9, 2023.
Big achievements that hit differently 🗣️ @Madison_Keys #AusOpen #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/Git8BopgT9
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2025
3 – Keys beat three former Grand Slam champions in Melbourne – Rybakina, Swiatek, Sabalenka. She also beat former Grand Slam finalist Danielle Collins.
25 – Keys’ last major finals appearance came 25 majors ago, at the 2017 US Open. That gap is the largest of any player between her first two major finals.
5 – Keys has won her first five matches against Top-10 players this year. She is the oldest player to start a season this way since Serena Williams in 2014.
12 – Keys extended her career-best 12-match winning streak with Saturday’s win over Sabalenka. She won the Adelaide title before going to Melbourne.
