Madison Keys has proven her staying power, reaching the Australian Open final nearly a decade after her first semi-final appearance at Melbourne Park.
Keys, who turns 30 next month, is experiencing a career resurgence. After defeating world number two Iga Swiatek in a nail-biting semi-final, she’s set to face defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the final on Saturday.
This marks Keys’ second Grand Slam final, eight years after her first at the US Open. Currently ranked 14th, she’s poised to return to the top 10 for the first time since 2019.
Her power game, reminiscent of Sabalenka’s, gives her a real shot at securing her maiden Grand Slam title and preventing Sabalenka from achieving a Melbourne three-peat, a feat last accomplished by Martina Hingis in the late 1990s.
Keys’ journey to the final is a testament to her perseverance. After ending her 2024 season early, she married her coach, Bjorn Fratangelo, in November. The couple’s collaboration has brought new energy to her game.
“It was about making small tweaks and changes,” Fratangelo said, emphasizing Keys’ untapped potential. “She’s in the mix now and playing some of her best tennis.”
Keys’ gutsy performance in the semi-final, where she saved a match point against Swiatek, underscores her competitive spirit. Fratangelo called it “as gutsy as I’ve ever seen her compete.”
With victories over top players like Danielle Collins and Elena Rybakina, Keys is proving she’s ready to make history.