MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Madison Keys, the reigning champion of the Australian Open, expressed her excitement and nostalgia as she prepares to return to Rod Laver Arena for the first time since her victory. Last year, she triumphed over top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka to claim her first Grand Slam title, a moment that still resonates with her. Before the tournament kicks off, Keys hopes to capture a quiet moment in the player tunnel, where her name now stands among the past champions.
In an emotional reflection, Keys shared, "I’ve always kind of remembered walking through that tunnel and seeing all the names." She referred to the experience as a "pinch-me moment," conveying her disbelief of being included among the greats of the sport. Her intention to take a photo to send to her mother further emphasizes the personal significance of this achievement.
As she walked around Melbourne Park, Keys could not help but reflect on her previous year’s journey. "There’s a really cool photo of me holding the trophy,” she recalled, highlighting the dream-like quality of her triumph. While remembering her success, she acknowledged the struggles she faced leading up to her championship, noting that she had been "match point down" in earlier rounds and had numerous challenging matches. This reflection gave her victory a more profound significance, as it was not an unblemished quest but one marked by hard-fought battles.
At 30 years old, Keys made history during her Australian Open victory, becoming the tournament's oldest first-time women's champion at 29. Her win disrupted Aryna Sabalenka's impressive 20-match winning streak. Additionally, Keys broke the record for the longest gap between Grand Slam finals, with her previous appearance in the final being the 2017 U.S. Open. Following her Australian Open success, she achieved a Top 5 ranking but faced early exits at the French Open, Wimbledon, and a surprising first-round exit at the U.S. Open. Her performance at the season-ending WTA Finals also fell short, as she lost two group-stage matches.
Aryna Sabalenka, reflecting on her defeat to Keys, admitted that the loss was difficult to overcome. “She played incredible and overplayed me. It took me a little time to recover," she explained. Looking forward to the upcoming Australian Open, Sabalenka stated that while she does not focus on the past results, her goal is to improve upon her previous performance. Having recently defeated Keys in the quarterfinals at the Brisbane International just a week prior, Sabalenka seems poised to make a strong impact in the tournament.
Sabalenka's first-round match is scheduled against Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, a wild-card entry from France. Meanwhile, Keys, seeded ninth and positioned on the opposite side of the draw from Sabalenka, is set to face Oleksandra Oliynykova from Ukraine. Aware of the pressure that comes with defending a major title, Keys remarked, "Even though I’ve been on tour for a long time, this is also still my first experience as that." She aims to embrace the excitement surrounding her journey this year, acknowledging the inevitable nerves that accompany her entry onto the court.
As the Australian Open approaches, both players, Keys and Sabalenka, are set to showcase their skills in pursuit of glory, each carrying their own narratives of triumph and resilience into the competition.
