Only the Zone Took Aryna Sabalenka Off Australian Open throne

The world No. 1 came agonizingly close to winning a third straight title Down Under, but leaves Melbourne with plenty of positives despite a runner-up finish to Madison Keys.

ByJoel Drucker

Published Jan 29, 2025

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Aryna Sabalenka arrived in Melbourne hoping to become the first woman to win the Australian Open three straight times since Martina Hingis earned a three-peat in 1999. But over the course of this year’s fortnight, Sabalenka repeatedly labored to find her best form. As just one example, in Sabalenka’s first six matches, her serve was broken 16 times. Champions, though, find their way, and so it was that Sabalenka scratched her way to the finals.

But champions also raise the bar, their excellence sending out a motivational message. So it was that Keys in the final beat Sabalenka at her own game of power and precision, depth and faith.

Sabalenka's 20-match win streaks—both in Australia and at hard-court majors—ended after a gripping three-set final in Melbourne.

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As much anguish as the defeat caused Sabalenka, she surely must feel encouraged to know that only an exceptionally inspired opponent ended her quest for another major.

Speaking after her 20-match Australian Open winning streak had ended, Sabalenka said, “I'm just trying to stay positive right now, find something good but that's crazy. I couldn't even dream, couldn't even think about that, like, few years ago that I'd be able to win that many matches in the row at one Slam.”