Telling stat from Madison Keys’ fairytale Australian Open campaign places her atop a prestigious list

A telling stat has laid bare the brilliance of US underdog Madison Keys, with big names like Ash Barty, Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka falling short.

Madison Keys’ remarkable victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final on Saturday not only delivered her first grand slam title, it also cemented her place as one of the most resilient players in women’s tennis.

The 29-year-old American had Melbourne screaming her name in the thrilling final after Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, mounted a fierce comeback.

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Despite the Belarusian’s best efforts, Keys stood tall with ferocious counterplay and sealed the deal with her 29th winner, moments after the game ticked over two hours.

The victory denied Sabalenka her bid to make history as the first woman to win three consecutive Melbourne titles in 26 years.

“I have wanted this for so long, I have been in one other grand slam final and it did not go my way,” a tearful Keys said after the match.

“I didn’t know if I was ever going to get back to this position to try to win a trophy again.”

Madison Keys celebrates with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP)

This win marked the culmination of a long journey for Keys after she struggled with injuries and inconsistency.

She initially broke through the US ranks as a teenage prodigy, but her run in the top 10 was fleeting.

This Australian Open has been a testament to her perseverance, which was on full display during a gruelling final set super tie-break against Iga Swiatek in the semis.

But even more remarkable is the minefield Keys had to navigate on her path to the title.

Her average opponent ranking in this tournament was 12.3, the highest for any women’s grand slam winner in the past five years.

In comparison, Ash Barty, who won the 2022 Australian Open, faced an average opponent ranking of 52.3, while others like Marketa Vondrousova (Wimbledon 2023) and Barbora Krejcikova (Wimbledon 2024) had opponents with average rankings of 19 and 19.1 respectively.

Her average opponent ranking in this tournament was 12.3, the highest for any women’s grand slam winner in the past five years.

Keys’ victory also places her in rare company as the fourth oldest first-time grand slam champion since the Open Era began in 1968.

“I’m mostly just really proud of myself to get back to this position, to be able to play the way that I played and finish on such a strong note,” she said.

She had made one previous slam final but was belted in the 2017 US Open decider and admitted she never knew if she would get the chance to make amends.

“OK, bear with me, I’m absolutely going to cry. There’s no way I get through this without tears, so sorry in advance,” Keys warned at the beginning of her victory speech.

“Firstly, Aryna, unbelievable playing. I’m glad I finally got you back.

She admitted she never knew if she would get the chance to win a grand slam. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Aryna Sabalenka’s loss has shaken up the playing field. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

“But unbelievable tennis. You are always so tough to play, and we have the craziest matches.

“Congratulations to you and your team for another amazing grand slam run.

“Thank you to everyone who came out the last two weeks. I always feel so at home here. I made my very first grand slam semi-final here in Melbourne. So to have won my first grand slam in the same place means the absolute world to me.

“This is where I’m gonna cry.

“I have wanted this for so long, and I have been in one other grand slam final and it did not go my way and I didn’t know if I was ever going to get back to this position to try to win a trophy again.

“And my team believed in me every step of the way. So thank you so much.”