By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday January 25, 2025
10 years after reaching her maiden Grand Slam semifinal in Melbourne, 29-year-old Madison Keys has one-upped herself. She defeated Aryna Sabalenka to win her maiden 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 – Keys’ age. She’s the oldest first-time women’s singles 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 event. Only two women have taken longer to win their maiden major title – Flavia Pennetta won the 2015 US Open in her 49th major appearance, while Marion Bartoli won Wimbledon in her 47th Grand Slam main draw.
Keys is also the second oldest player to win her maiden Australian Open title in the Open Era. Only Li Na, who won the title in 2014 at the age of 31.
2005 – By winning against the No.1 and No.2-ranked players, Keys is the first woman to win the Australian Open by doing so since Serena Williams in 2005. She’s the first woman to win any major by defeating the world’s No.1 and No.2 ranked players since Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2009.
7 – Keys returns to a career-high ranking of No.7. She’s back inside the Top 10 for the first time since January 9, 2023.
Major achievements that hit different 🗣️ @Madison_Keys #AusOpen #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/Git8BopgT9
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2025
3 – Keys defeated three former Grand Slam champions in Melbourne – Rybakina, Swiatek, Sabalenka. She also defeated former Grand Slam finalist Danielle Collins.
25 – Keys’ last major final appearance came 25 majors ago, at the 2017 US Open. That gap is the largest of any player between first two major finals.
5 – Keys has won her first five matches against Top-10 players this year. She’s the oldest player to start a season that way since Serena Williams in 2014.
12 – Keys stretched her career-best winning streak to 12 matches with Saturday’s win over Sabalenka. She won the Adelaide title prior to heading to Melbourne.
