Madison Keys finds final polish to achieve fading destiny at Australian Open
Madison Keys finds final polish to achieve fading destiny at Australian Open
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Years without a major triumph eroded expectations but the 29-year-old unlocked her best level to end Sabalenka’s reign. Madison Keys leads 5-4 in the third set, and with another heavy return she pressures the best tennis player in the world into an error. It is 0-15 on a cool evening in Melbourne, and the American is three points from a first grand slam title.
![[Madison Keys with the Australian Open trophy]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/18225f93299b44211847cdb1a95ed9cd507743e8/0_337_5120_3072/master/5120.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The 29-year-old has spent more time on the professional tour than not, after debuting soon after becoming a teenager. She was a prodigy always destined for great things, until the years without a major triumph eroded expectations. At Rod Laver Arena she is now closer than ever to her fading destiny.
Then – in a blink – world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka holds serve. Across the net from the No 19 seed is a woman described by Keys’ own coach and husband Bjorn Fratangelo as “a little more of the polished version of Madison”. The Belarusian is three years Keys’ junior, yet is chasing a hat-trick of Australian Open titles and a fourth grand slam. And she broke the American’s heart in the semi-finals at the US Open two years ago, coming back from a set down.
On the blue court Sabalenka considers home, they are level again at 5-5 and Keys is back to square one. It’s a place the American has been many times. Eight years ago she was beaten in her only appearance in a grand slam final, at the US Open, failing to win a single game in the second set.
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