How Australian Open champion Madison Keys celebrated maiden grand slam win

Despite her long wait for a major title, Australian Open champion Madison Keys has revealed her celebrations were subdued following her upset victory over world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka.

Australian Open champion Madison Keys declared “the sky’s the limit” for her grand slam goals after revealing her subdued celebrations of a glass of champagne and bed following her maiden win in a major.

The morning after upsetting world No.1 and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka to win her first grand slam crown, Keys showed off her Australian Open trophy on the beach at Brighton in Melbourne on Sunday.

Eight years after her straight sets defeat in her only other appearance in a grand slam final at the US Open in 2017, 29-year-old Keys said she was still coming to terms with being a grand slam champion.

Despite the long wait for a major title, Keys revealed it had been a quiet night of celebrations following her Melbourne Park triumph.

“I had one glass of champagne and then I tried to go to sleep,” said Keys, who was hoping to “take a nap” for her next celebratory act.

“The last 12 hours have been very quick, I didn’t sleep a whole lot last night.

Madison Keys poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

“(I’m) still trying to kind of wrap my head around it, but I think once I have a few days of normalcy, I think it will finally hit me and I’ll be able to really just appreciate it.”

After a dominant start to 2025, winning the Adelaide International and the Australian Open, Keys will now jump from No.14 to seven in the WTA world rankings.

But she hoped her breakthrough grand slam crown would be a springboard to more success.

Madison Keys claimed a stunning underdog victory over the world no.1. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

“I have always wanted to win every single tournament I have ever been in a draw of, so I think that is going to continue to be the goal,” Keys said.

“I think now the sky’s the limit and we just keep working towards the next title.”

Keys said her Australian Open victory had been extra special, sharing it with her husband and coach Bjorn Fratangelo.

Fratangelo took over as Keys’ coach in 2023 and the couple was married in November last year.

“To be able to achieve this accomplishment and have him here with me and be a part of it is icing on the cake,” Keys said.

“I think it helps a lot that he played himself so he really knows how you are feeling and what you’re going through.

“He does a really good job at knowing when to deliver messages and how to do a really good job of work is work, but he truly is just my best friend in the whole world.

Champagne time for Keys. Picture: Adrian Dennis / AFP

“He is kind of a big softie, I don’t think he always shows that. I am one of the few people that actually gets to see it, but he is just the sweetest best guy.”

Keys said she had been flooded with messages of congratulations from around the tennis world after her win, but the most treasured ones had come from her former coach and fellow American, Lindsay Davenport.

“I don’t even think I could name all of the people that have reached out, but one special one was Lindsay Davenport, she reached out and she is someone that is so near and dear to me.” Keys said.

“We lost a heartbreaker, so being able to win one and talk to her and get to share the experience has been so nice.

“I just have so many great friends who have been on tour and been so supportive, so just amazing and they have all reached out and they are all so excited.”