Madison Keys photos herself as a champion once more on the Australian Open

[ad_1] MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Madison Keys deliberate to stroll into the participant tunnel at Rod Laver Enviornment in a quiet second when no person was watching, and take a photograph of her identify listed with the opposite champions on the Australian Open.

After beating top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in final yr's ultimate at Melbourne Park to win her first Grand Slam title, Keys pictured the second she'd return to the stadium for the primary time as defending champion.

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“I’ve all the time sort of remembered strolling via that tunnel and seeing all of the names,” she stated Friday, two days earlier than the primary main of the yr begins. “It was a little bit little bit of a pinch-me second the place I used to be like, ‘Wow, I’m going to be up there.’

“I've not seen my identify within the tunnel but. I hope I can go in there when there’s nobody else so I can take an image and ship it to my mother."

Earlier than going through the media in Melbourne, she could not assist however discover different proof on the venue of her breakthrough triumph.

“There’s a extremely cool picture of me holding the trophy," Keys stated. “Attending to see these, it’s one thing you dream of in your profession.”

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The 30-year-old American stated it was simple to look again nearly 12 months and suppose every part labored to perfection, however "additionally you concentrate on, ‘Wow, I nearly misplaced.’

"I used to be match level down. So many three-set matches. There have been some ugly matches. I believe it sort of simply makes every part a little bit bit higher simply because it wasn’t issue-free.”

Keys gained a tune-up match in Adelaide in 2025 earlier than ending Sabalenka's 20-match profitable streak on the Australian Open. At 29, she was the match's oldest first-time girls's champion. She additionally set a document because the participant with the longest hole between their first two Grand Slam finals — her first was the 2017 U.S. Open.

The Australian Open victory launched her right into a Prime 5 rating the next month. After the breakthrough, although, she was ousted within the French Open quarterfinals, the third spherical at Wimbledon and had a nervy first-round exit on the U.S. Open. On the season-ending WTA Finals, she misplaced two group-stage matches.

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Sabalenka, in the meantime, admitted Friday that the loss right here to Keys final yr was powerful.

“She performed unimaginable and overplayed me. Took me a little bit time to recuperate,” she stated. “We had matches after that. I labored on my mistake on these matches.

“Going to this AO, I’m probably not specializing in that final yr consequence however after all I wish to do just a bit bit higher than I did final yr!”

Sabalenka, who beat Keys within the quarterfinals final week en path to the Brisbane Worldwide title, performs her first-round match Sunday night time towards Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, a wild-card entry from France.

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Keys additionally misplaced within the quarterfinals in her title protection in Adelaide earlier this week. However she's taking it in her stride as she prepares for an additional profession first: defending a serious title.

“Though I’ve been on tour for a very long time, that is additionally nonetheless my first expertise as that,” she stated. “I’m actually simply making an attempt to soak in all the actually cool enjoyable elements."

Seeded ninth and on the opposite aspect of the draw from Sabalenka, Keys is scheduled to open towards Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine.

“Sure, I’m certain occurring court docket I’m going to be very nervous," she stated, "however I don’t suppose I’ve ever walked on court docket first spherical of a Grand Slam and never been nervous.”