The newly crowned Australian Open champion delivered a touching tribute to her close-knit team after claiming an elusive first grand slam crown with a nerve-shredding 6-3 2-6 7-5 victory over world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka at Melbourne Park on Saturday night.
But Keys saved her most special praise for her life partner Bjorn Fratangelo, crediting the 31-year-old one-time top-100 men's pro for reviving her career.
A team victory 🙌�— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) Squealing Pig Wines • #SummerofLove • #Celebrate • #DrinkResponsibly • #AusOpen • #AO2025 • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/RfQJEcxcBjJanuary 25, 2025
A former junior prodigy who arrived on the pro scene at 14, Keys feared her best opportunities of capturing a slam may have been behind her following a heartbreaking US Open semi-final loss to Sabalenka in 2023.
The American won the opening set 6-0 in that one but lost in a third-set tiebreaker after serving for the match.
Last year was a depressing one too, with Keys sitting out the Australian Open with injury before being forced to quit with a hamstring strain while leading eventual runner-up Jasmine Paolini 5-2 in the fourth round at Wimbledon.
The 2017 US Open runner-up also missed the Paris Olympics and crashed out in the third round back in New York.
Keys celebrates with her team, including husband and coach Bjorn Fratangelo (2nd right). (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
That's why Keys figured something had to change.Â
So, approaching 30 next month, Keys changed racquets, coaches and her entire approach to the game."I have the absolute greatest team," she said while cradling the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.
"They have really believed in me in the moments that I did not believe in myself, and they basically helped me completely rebuild after some pretty bad injuries last year.
"And I have the most supportive, best husband in the entire world, who did not even want to coach me and I was like, 'Please, come with me'.
"It took some arm-twisting and he has been the most supportive and he has fully believed in me every step of the way.
Keys and Fratangelo enjoy an embrace after the victory. (AP PHOTO)
"If it was not for those three people who have been cheering me on all week, in all of the three-set matches, I would not be here."
In an incredible run to the title, Keys - still unbeaten in 2025 after opening the year with victory at the Adelaide International - also took out world No.10 and 2022 Open runner-up Danielle Collins, 28th seed Elina Svitolina and the second-ranked Iga Swiatek after saving a match point in the semi-finals. Â
Her biggest scalp, though, was undoubtedly the top-seeded Sabalenka, who had been gunning to become the first woman this century to snare a hat-trick of titles at Melbourne Park.
To stop the Belarusian powerhouse, Keys knew she had to break the shackles and go for broke, come what may.
"My only goal was to make sure I played how I wanted to play and not have any regrets," said the world No.14, who will return to a career-high seventh in the new rankings on Monday.
"Because the last time I played Sabalenka at the US Open, I walked off the court and had a lot of regret because, any big moments, I felt like I backed off.
"She played the way she wanted to last time and I was going to absolutely be OK if I played how I wanted to, and she beat me.
Keys enjoys a glass of champers next to the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
"So, if that is how it happened, no problem.Â
"But that was my only goal and I feel like I did that and I kept telling myself, 'Just try to get to the next point'.
"It was really just, 'Try to walk off the court no matter what and be proud of yourself'.
"I kept saying to myself, 'Just be brave, go after your shots'. You know she's going to go after them so I didn't want to get behind in points.
"And once I was to hold and go up 6-5 (in the deciding set), I said to myself, 'No matter what, there is a match tiebreak, you are still in this, just go for it', and I fully trusted myself."
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