Madison Keys Matches Career-High Ranking, Re-Enters Top 10 After Australian Open Win
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Newly-crowned Australian Open women's singles winner Madison Keys is at her joint-best ranking after her stunning success in Melbourne.
Keys won her first Grand Slam title after beating Aryna Sabalenka in the final. It was a thrilling battle decided by a tight third set, but a break for the American at 6-5 confirmed a 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 triumph.
Although winning a maiden Grand Slam would be special under any circumstances, Keys had one of the most challenging routes to a major title in recent years. In the semifinal, she defeated world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in a deciding set tiebreak.
Keys also overcame the former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, Elina Svitolina, and Danielle Collins during her run to glory. No one can credibly argue that the 29-year-old did not deserve to secure the title.
The 2017 US Open runner-up has even more good news to celebrate after that success. Keys' heroics at the Australian Open have returned her to the career-high ranking she first achieved years ago.
That victory against the world No. 1 Sabalenka means Keys has jumped seven places in the rankings to No. 7. She began the tournament at No. 14 and has frequently been in the No. 11-20 range throughout her career.
Keys had received a ranking points boost before the Australian Open began from winning the Adelaide International. That meant she entered the season's opening Grand Slam with the feeling of obtaining a title fresh in her mind.
While Keys' level was excellent in Adelaide, very few predicted she could win the Australian Open. A rare exception was Jessica Pegula, who lost the final in Adelaide to her compatriot. The world No. 6 thought glory in Melbourne was possible with just half her level from the third set of their final.
Reaching world No. 7 again is a superb achievement that Keys will rightly feel proud of. However, she could be on the verge of going even higher and achieving the highest ranking of her career.
Keys is just 181 points behind Pegula at No. 6, which is not a massive lead. In the next few months, the higher-ranked American will defend her points from semifinal runs in San Diego and Charleston and the quarterfinal in Indian Wells.
Elena Rybakina is only 213 points ahead of Keys. The Kazakhstani's lead is even more precarious because she is set to defend points from winning the WTA 500 titles in Abu Dhabi and Stuttgart and being the runner-up at the Miami Open.
Keys entering the Top 5 for the first time in the coming months is not inconceivable. For now, the likable WTA star will rightfully take time to enjoy celebrating the best moment of her tennis career with her husband and coach, Bjorn Fratangelo.
Sabalenka remains at No. 1 ahead of Iga Swiatek after the Australian Open, but her lead is just 186 points. The fight for that position throughout the season could be as epic as it was throughout 2023 and 2024.
