The world No. 1 is seeking a third Australian Open title in a row. This is what makes her the best player in the world.

MELBOURNE, Australia — When Madison Keys stepped into Rod Laver Arena at 7:37 p.m. on Saturday night ahead of the Australian Open final, she strode right past the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, the trophy that goes to the women’s champion and was placed on a pedestal near the entrance to the court.

Madison Keys stunned Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open women’s final to win her long-awaited first grand slam title while denying the World No 1 a historic ‘three-peat’. Keys halted Sabalenka’s winning run in Melbourne and triumphed in the battle of two big-hitters, winning 6-3 2-6 7-5 in a thrilling deciding set on the Rod Laver Arena.

Madison Keys won her first ever grand slam title on Saturday, stunning two-time defending champion and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 2-6 7-5 in a thrilling Australian Open women’s final.

Madison Keys of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Iga Swiatek of Poland in their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, early Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) AP

The world No. 1 has her own way of processing defeats, and it involves a little social distance from her coaches.

Madison Keys won her first grand slam title at the 2025 Australian Open, defeating No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka in the final on Saturday. Keys beat

Madison Keys wrote three short words on the camera lens after her victory against Iga Świątek at the Australian Open: “Oh my god.”

The Madison Keys who will play two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka for the title at the Australian Open on Saturday night is not the same Madison Keys who was the runner-up at the U.S.

Be brave. Go for it. Those were the mantras Madison Keys turned to as she confronted the most significant points of her tennis career, trapped in the cauldron of a third set that was tied at 5-all, 30-all in the Australian Open final against two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday.

Keys said she first tried speaking with a sports psychologist when she was around 18 or 19, then tried working with others.