Madison Keys wins the Australian Open as Aryna Sabalenka reacts with shocking outburst – and the new champ is ambushed by a VERY personal question from a Channel Nine star

Magnificent Madison Keys has burst Aryna Sabalenka’s bubble and dissolved into tears of joy after claiming her maiden grand slam crown with a stirring three-set Australian Open triumph over the two-time defending champion.

However, she was hit with another in a growing series of gaffes by host broadcaster Channel Nine minutes after the life-changing victory. 

Sabalenka had been a hot favourite to become the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to complete an Open title hat-trick at Melbourne Park.

Instead, 29-year-old Keys became the oldest first-time grand slam champion in a decade with a roller-coaster 6-3 2-6 7-5 victory at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night.

She couldn’t contain her joy after breaking Sabalenka’s serve to take the title, with the Belarusian greeting her warmly at the net – then shocking the crowd by smashing her racket to smithereens at courtside.

The No.1 seed then sat devastated with a towel over her head to hide her face before abruptly leaving the court to cool down.

The world No.1, on the other hand, couldn’t contain her anger and frustration after coming agonisingly close to winning a hat-trick of Australian Open titles

The Belarusian cut herself off from the crowd by draping a towel over her head before abruptly leaving the court – then returning to deliver a heartfelt and funny speech to the crowd

After the trophy presentation – which saw Keys’ husband and coach Bjorn Fratangelo break into tears as he received an award of his own – the 19th seed was ambushed by a very off-putting question from Channel Nine star James Bracey.

The host broadcaster has been heavily criticised over failed attempts at humour that left stars angry or confused during the tournament, from Tony Jones paving the way for Novak Djokovic’s stunning interview boycott, to Roger Rasheed stunning Ben Shelton with a joke that backfired.

Shelton later blasted the ‘disrespectful broadcaster, saying the treatment players received left him ‘a little bit shocked’.

Bracey ran the risk of adding to that as he stunned Keys with an off-putting question about her husband.

‘You and Bjorn, you got married in November. You described it as the best weekend of your life. He’s not in earshot now – how does that [the win] compare?’ he asked.

‘Nooo,’ Keys said, sounding taken aback. ‘That was still the best weekend.’

‘Right answer!’ Bracey replied.

He also got a sarcastic ‘thank you’ from Keys when he informed her that ‘no female has ever lost more games en route to the title than you have.’ 

A precocious junior talent who arrived on the professional scene as a 14-year-old, Keys had been earmarked as a future superstar.

Until now, though, the American had never delivered on her immense potential.

Keys was blindsided by a very off-putting question from Channel Nine star James Bracey (pictured together) as she was riding the high of her stunning win

Nine has come in for plenty of criticism over failed attempts at humour during this year’s tournament – with Tony Jones apologising to Novak Djokovic after a gag gone wrong saw the Serb ambush fans and Open bosses with an interview boycott

Men’s semifinalist Ben Shelton said he was left ‘shocked’ by the ‘disrespectful’ treatment some players have been dealt by Nine

Set to return an equal career-high No.7 in the world following her overdue breakthrough, Keys is the oldest woman to land their maiden major since 33-year-old Flavia Pennetta famously denied Serena Williams a calendar-year grand slam at the 2015 US Open.

The emotion-charged, watershed win atoned for Keys’ despairing US Open semi-final loss to Sabelenka in 2023 after she’d won the opening set 6-0 and then served for the match.

But while Keys rejoiced, Sabalenka earned an unwanted place in tennis history as only the third women’s world No.1 in the 57-year era of professional tennis to lose a grand slam final to an opponent ranked outside the top 10.

Sabalenka made an anxious start to the match, coughing up two double-faults in the opening game to gift Keys the first break.

A nervous wreck in her only previous grand slam final, which ended in a crushing 6-3 6-0 loss to Sloane Stephens at the 2017 US Open, Keys played without fear on this occasion.

She gained a second break after another error-riddled fifth game from Sabalenka before holding serve for a 5-1 lead.

Keys, showing the strain for the first time, faltered serving for the opening set at 5-2, hitting a pair of wild forehand and backhands to offer Sabalenka an opening.

But the Belarusian couldn’t take it, double-faulting for a fourth return to present Keys with set point before the world No.14 clinched it with a booming backhand down-the-line winner.

Both players entered the final unbeaten in 2025 after Sabalenka opened the year with victory at the season-opening Brisbane International before Keys reigned in Adelaide.

Bracey’s question about Keys’ wedding to husband Bjorn Fratangelo (pictured together after her Open victory) drew a disappointed reaction from the champion

Keys refused to wilt under immense pressure as she and Sabalenka went game-for-game in the final set – before turning on the afterburners to break her opponent for the win

Something had to give, and it was Sabalenka who failed to handle the pressure under Melbourne’s bright lights.

The 26-year-old had two break-point opportunities in the opening game of the second set, only to misfire again.

The top seed finally began to turn the tide after holding for 1-1, then upping the ante to break Keys twice to forge ahead 5-1.

The title match was back on level terms when Sabalenka served out the second set after one hour and 20 minutes of daring first-strike tennis.

The third set was a thriller, full of tension as neither combatant gave an inch until Keys snared a decisive break in the 12th game to seal victory after two hours and two minutes.

Keys saved match points in the semi-final against world No.2 Iga Swiatek and claimed the trophy with a run of five straight wins over seeds.

She also defeated world No.10 Danielle Collins, sixth seed Elena Rybakina and 28th seed Elina Svitolina.

‘Wow, Madison, what a tournament,’ said a gracious Sabalenka.

‘You have been fighting really hard to get this trophy, and claimed this tonight.

‘Congratulations to you and your team, really well deserved and enjoy the celebration – the really fun part.’