Madison Keys is finally a Grand SLAM champion and fills the fate that had been set for her since she became Pro at the early ripe age of 14.
And with God she did it in the hard way. After saving a match point to beat the world NO2 Iga Swiateek in the semi-final, Keys World No1 made Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
The 29-year-old keys had longed for this; So deeply longed for the validation of a big title that paralyzed her. It paralyzed her against Sloane Stephens in the US Open Finals 2017 and it paralyzed her again in New York when she lost a semi-final to Sabalenka after winning the first set with 6-0.
But recently Keys was able to let go, to realize that she has had a good career and can be proud of her efforts. It turned out, only when she stopped wanting it was to reach out and take it.
Sabalenka has won and lost a number of major matches in her career, but it has always been, as we say 'on her racket': the fate of her match has decided by how many of her colossal strokes have found their target. But that wasn't the case here. Here the 27-year-old Belarus was forced to spend a lot of the game and hope that her opponent missed.
This was the collision of the Titans, two of the most brutal hitters in the game. Both women are characterized as brainless ball bashers in the past, but Sabalenka in recent years and they have more recently, they have tamed their power.
Madison Keys is finally a Grand Slam champion and fills the fate explained for her since she became Pro at the early ripe age of 14
After saving a match point to beat the world NO2 Iga Swiateek in the semi-final, Keys World No1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
Keys had longed for this; longed for the validation of an important title so deep that it paralyzed her
In the aftermath of Keys 'seismic, match-point-saving victory over Iga Swiateek in the semi-final, her coach and husband Bjorn Fratangelo said:' Sharpening the ax can take you that far, but sometimes you just need new tools . 'Keys started working with her husband last year and with the help of a Wilson racket to Yonex they refined her game.
Both players showed their range of skills in an excellent final full of contact and athletics and – yes – blood -curdling force.
The last slam final of Keys was the US Open Final 2017 against her good friend Sloane Stephens and she was completely chained by nerves. She reached 2-2 in the first set and then won only one match.
The 29-year-old admitted that she had 'thought out endlessly in the last eight years' and it was clear that there would be no repetition.
It was previously double -defending champion Sabalenka who started Edgily, twice in the opening match double errors to give a break.
On 1-3 she was again accused to admit the breaking point and keys chopped a Sabalenka-like Forehand slab that grabbed in the field and bounced too low to handle.
In the next game, keys played an exceptional Cross Court Backhand Drop -Shot, a remark of pure poetry in the midst of the heavy metal. Carlos Alcaraz would have been proud of such a shot and it was a weapon that was just not in Keys's Armory a year ago.
As Fratangelo said for the final: “You can take the grinding of the ax that far, but sometimes you just need new tools.” Well, that defensive slice of Forehand, like a bird above water, was a new tool and that drop -shot was another.
This was the clash of the Titans, two of the most brutal hitters in the game
Keys started working with her husband last year and, with the help of a change from Wilson to Yonex, they refined her game
If keys needed a stronghold against complacency, the US Open Semi final of 2023 could remember when she lost to Sabalenka in a heartache after taking the first set with 6-0.
What an honor of them two that they have been able to combine marital bliss with the stormy relationship between coach and player. It could all have went so wrong; It does not matter much whether a racket is Wilson or Yonex when your wife buries it in your skull.
Sabalenka brought himself back to the set and raised her ball rate.
Sabalenka served on 5-3, 30-30 and was overcome. A handle here would have forced keys to serve for the set that lost three games in a row. But a fourth double mistake chose the most unimportant time to arrive and then keys smoked a backhand along the line to take the set.
Sabalenka had at least achieved what Swiatek had not done in the second set of the semi -final – she had stopped the bleeding, established a speed dump before the Rolllock key station wagon.
She missed a number of big opportunities in the first game of the second set, on Keys' Serve, Duff a overhead and, at breaking point, to arouse a simple pass.
“Let's go Tiger, come on girl,” said a voice of the crowd and Sabalenka broke to take the lead, a backhand winner. She played faster and flat and forced keys to defend – not likely – or attacks from less promising positions.
Sabalenka now increased the volume, a roar of efforts that became a scream of Triumph when she tore a passing shot to fall a double apart to the game.
If keys needed some stronghold against complacency, the US Open Semi final of 2023 could remember when she lost to Sabalenka in a heartache after taking the first set with 6-0
That was then two fairly one -sided sets, and now we hoped for a nail bit decision -maker. The exceptional portion continued, with 10 holds in a row and zero breakpoints. Both women saw it as an Aussie rules of football; Part of the admission was breathtaking.
As the last phases approached, none of the women showed an Iota of fear, taking the big shot when it was available. The best of the lot came when keys were served on 5-5, 30-30-one high pressure point. Sabalenka drilled a forehand right with her and Keys got a layer and half full a bulletberry that should lie on the Blue Hof on the Blauwe Hof.
That left Sabalenka to stay in the game for the second time and keys touched a first serve for a clean backhand winner to go up 0-30. She again attacked 15-30 and brought out two championship points.
One big Sabalenka -Serve came down, then another, but this time Keys was over it and hit that backhand along the line again. It came back, but there was no fear, undoubtedly and no nerves. That wild forehand who has been her calling card since her teenage years struck once; It struck twice and it was over.
