Aryna Sabalenka Falls Short in Australian Open Final Against Madison Keys

On Saturday Aryna Sabalenka’s dreams of winning a third consecutive Australian Open ended in frustration after she lost to Madison Keys in the final, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. After the match, Sabalenka tossed her racket to the sideline and sat on her bench with a towel covering her head. She even briefly walked off the court before the trophy ceremony.

“There was definitely some frustration,” Sabalenka admitted. “I was so close to achieving something big. You’re out there fighting, but it feels like everything’s going wrong.”

Despite her emotions, Sabalenka made sure to keep it respectful during her speech. “I just needed to release those negative emotions so I wouldn’t be disrespectful,” she explained. “I was trying to let it go and be a good person.”

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Sabalenka had been on a 20-match winning streak at Melbourne Park. Winning the final would have made her the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to win three consecutive Australian Open titles.

Sabalenka said after the loss “It’s OK. “I know that after tough losses, there are good wins ahead. I’ll keep working and next time I’m in this situation, I’ll definitely play better.”

The match was closely contested with Keys winning just one more point than Sabalenka, 92-91. Both players hit 29 winners, and there was no break point in the third set until the very last game.

Sabalenka praised Keys for her aggressive play. “She was super aggressive. It felt like everything was going her way,” Sabalenka said. “I was just trying to keep the ball in play.”

Heading into the final, Sabalenka was undefeated in 2025 with an 11-0 record. She had also won 4 out of their 5 previous head-to-head encounters, including a victory over Keys in the U.S. Open semifinals two years ago.

Keys, who was seeded 19th in the tournament, acknowledged Sabalenka’s tough game and competitiveness. “Aryna, unbelievable playing. I’m glad I finally got you back,” Keys said. “You’re always so tough to play. We always have the craziest matches. Congratulations to you and your team for another amazing Grand Slam run.”

Despite the loss, Sabalenka remains determined. She has won three Grand Slam titles and finished as the runner-up in the 2023 U.S. Open. During her speech, she joked with her team: “As always, that’s your fault, guys. I don’t want to see you for the next week. I really hate you!” She added with a laugh, “Thank you for everything you’re doing for me.”