Keys fulfils Grand Slam ambition after banishing doubts with therapy

MELBOURNE : Madison Keys once suffered under the weight of expectation that one day, some day, she would achieve the Grand Slam success tipped for her since she was an 11-year-old prodigy.

On Saturday, nearly 16 years after turning professional, the liberated American upset world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 2-6 7-5 in the Australian Open final.

Good things come to those who wait as the saying goes - but Keys's wait may have seemed interminable.

Her Australian Open triumph came in her 46th Grand Slam, the third-most for a maiden major trophy in the professional era, behind only Flavia Pennetta and Marion Bartoli.

While her pile-driving groundstrokes and courage under fire were vital in toppling Sabalenka, the double defending champion and world number one, Keys credited therapy for helping her play her best tennis.

She needed it to quieten the nagging voices in her head about her lack of major success.

"I think as I got older and I had gotten close and it didn't happen, it kind of feels like, 'Will this ever actually happen? If it doesn't happen, I didn't live up to what everyone told me I should have done,'" she told reporters.

"I finally got to the point where I was personally low enough that I was like, I don't really care if this helps me perform, I just want to feel better.

"I honestly think that had I not done that, then I wouldn't be sitting here."

Ten years ago, at the age of 19, Keys appeared set to deliver on the hype as she stormed into her first Grand Slam semi-finals at Melbourne Park.

But she was in no way regarded a title threat at this year's tournament.

Her 2024 season was blighted by injury and her best effort at the three Grand Slams she played was a fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon.

BITTER DEFEAT

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