Madison Keys wins the Australian Open as Aryna Sabalenka reacts with shocking outburst - and the new champ is ambushed by a VERY personal question from a Channel Nine star
Madison Keys wins the Australian Open as Aryna Sabalenka reacts with shocking outburst - and the new champ is ambushed by a VERY personal question from a Channel Nine star
Share:
Magnificent Madison Keys has burst Aryna Sabalenka's bubble and dissolved into tears of joy after claiming her maiden grand slam crown with a stirring three-set Australian Open triumph over the two-time defending champion. However, she was hit with another in a growing series of gaffes by host broadcaster Channel Nine minutes after the life-changing victory.
![[The world No.1, on the other hand, couldn't contain her anger and frustration after coming agonisingly close to winning a hat-trick of Australian Open titles]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/25/12/94504241-14324337-image-a-58_1737809191527.jpg)
Sabalenka had been a hot favourite to become the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to complete an Open title hat-trick at Melbourne Park. Instead, 29-year-old Keys became the oldest first-time grand slam champion in a decade with a roller-coaster 6-3 2-6 7-5 victory at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night.
![[The Belarusian cut herself off from the crowd by draping a towel over her head before abruptly leaving the court - then returning to deliver a heartfelt and funny speech to the crowd]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/25/12/94503019-14324337-image-a-59_1737809254766.jpg)
She couldn't contain her joy after breaking Sabalenka's serve to take the title, with the Belarusian greeting her warmly at the net - then shocking the crowd by smashing her racket to smithereens at courtside. The No.1 seed then sat devastated with a towel over her head to hide her face before abruptly leaving the court to cool down.
![[Keys was blindsided by a very off-putting question from Channel Nine star James Bracey (pictured together) as she was riding the high of her stunning win]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/25/12/94504577-14324337-image-a-60_1737809318881.jpg)
Madison Keys reacts with unbridled joy after scoring her first grand slam win by overcoming Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set thriller on Rod Laver Arena. The world No.1, on the other hand, couldn't contain her anger and frustration after coming agonisingly close to winning a hat-trick of Australian Open titles.
![[Nine has come in for plenty of criticism over failed attempts at humour during this year's tournament - with Tony Jones apologising to Novak Djokovic after a gag gone wrong saw the Serb ambush fans and Open bosses with an interview boycott]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/25/12/94285751-14324337-image-a-62_1737809433291.jpg)
The Belarusian cut herself off from the crowd by draping a towel over her head before abruptly leaving the court - then returning to deliver a heartfelt and funny speech to the crowd. After the trophy presentation - which saw Keys' husband and coach Bjorn Fratangelo break into tears as he received an award of his own - the 19th seed was ambushed by a very off-putting question from Channel Nine star James Bracey.
![[Men's semifinalist Ben Shelton said he was left 'shocked' by the 'disrespectful' treatment some players have been dealt by Nine]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/25/12/94391341-14324337-image-a-63_1737809540799.jpg)
