In the world of tennis, the journey to success is often marked with grueling persistence and a relentless will to win. A shining example of this is Madison Keys, who embarked on her professional journey in 2009, only to taste substantial success eight years later at the Grand Slam stage. Despite the long wait and a crushing defeat in the 2017 US Open final, Keys’ spirit remained unbroken. Her perseverance paid off when she dominated the 2025 Australian Open (AO), marking a victorious moment in her career.
Keys carried the energy from her AO win to the Indian Wells Open, where her winning streak stretched to an impressive 16 matches. However, her fortune took a dip when she faced the world number one, Aryna Sabalenka. The American tennis star was handed a crushing defeat, with a scoreline reading 6-0, 6-1. The match ended Keys’ winning spree and left fans wondering if her recent triumphs were dimmed by this defeat.
Sabalenka’s stellar performance in the semi-final clash at Indian Wells was a sight to behold. The Belarusian tennis sensation displayed remarkable control and forced 21 errors from Keys. Winning the first eleven games of the match, Sabalenka allowed Keys only a slim chance to hold serve. Despite the harsh defeat, the tennis fraternity continues to rally behind Keys, lauding her spirit and determination.
Former American pro, Pam Shriver, was not shy in expressing her support for Keys. In the aftermath of Keys’ loss, Shriver tweeted, “If I could start a year 16-0 and win a major, I would put up with losing 11 straight games every match the rest of the year. Good for Keys to have held serve.” Shriver’s support for Keys is not new; she has previously praised the American tennis star, most notably when Keys won the 2023 Rothesay International.
As for Sabalenka, her victory at the Indian Wells semi-final has prepared her for a final showdown against upcoming tennis star, Mirra Andreeva. After her victory against Keys, Sabalenka acknowledged her thirst for revenge, following her defeat to Keys at the AO final earlier in the year. The Belarusian expressed her excitement and determination to perform better in her upcoming match.
Sabalenka’s performance in the semi-final was remarkable, with 14 winners and 10 unforced errors, in comparison to Keys’ 10 winners and 18 unforced errors. Sabalenka spoke candidly about how the AO loss had been a heart-wrenching moment and how she had taken time to recover and learn from it. “Well, I needed this revenge badly…I didn’t expect this match to be that fast. I’m super happy with how I played. Much-needed revenge,” Sabalenka shared post-match.
Now, the world number one is bracing for a face-off against 17-year-old Russian prodigy, Mirra Andreeva, in the final. Sabalenka holds a 4-1 lead in their head-to-head encounter, leaving fans eager to know if Andreeva can turn the tide this time around.