Madison Keys already has a clear idea of what Aryna Sabalenka’s game plan will be in the Australian Open final.
The 19th seed secured one of the biggest wins of her career by beating Iga Swiatek to reach the championship match in Melbourne for the first time.
Keys came from a set down to claim a 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(10-8) win in two hours and 38 minutes to reach her Grand Slam final.
Keys will face one of the tightest tasks in tennis, and that is to beat Aryna Sabalenka on a hard court, and she has not lost in Melbourne since 2022.
Madison Keys is one of the most powerful and cleanest ball strikers on the WTA Tour.
In the Australian Open final she will face the two-time defending champion Sabalenka, who is known for possessing the same skills.
Fans can expect a showcase of first-strike and explosive tennis from the two players, and this is something Keys is already preparing for.
“She is playing for her third Aussie Open in a row, so it’s going to be a big task. You know what to expect from her” Keys told Eurosport about Sabalenka.
“She is going to go after her shots, and there are going to be some amazing moments. I am just going to have to try and do the exact same. Hopefully it won’t be three hours later but hopefully we’ll have a great match!”
Keys has played Sabalenka on five occasions and emerged victorious on just one occasion.
This came on the grass courts in Berlin back in 2021, which the American won 6-4, 1-6, 7-5. Their last meeting came at the China Open back in October, which was the pair’s only meeting in 2024.
Sabalenka eliminated Keys from the tournament by claiming a 6-4, 6-3 victory. This was the Belarusian’s 15th successive win, dating back to her Cincinnati Masters and US Open triumphs.
Keys is currently on the best win steak of her career after claiming her 11th successive victory when she beat Swiatek to reach the Australian open final.
The World number one will aim to make it 12 on Saturday, while Sabalenka is aiming for her 21st win in a row at Melbourne Park.
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