Madison Keys beat Aryna Sabalenka to win her first Grand Slam title

Madison Keys is the Australian Open champion (Image: Getty)

Madison Keys blew away world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka to win her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

The American No.19 seed had been the huge underdog against the two-time defending champion who was seeking a 21st consecutive Melbourne match win tonight.

But Keys, who stunned world No.2 Iga Swiatek in the semis, brought the same red-hot form to a cool, breezy night in Melbourne to produce another huge shock.

In a rollercoaster contest, the world No.14 won the first set in 35 minutes before Sabalenka won five consecutive games in the second set.

And in a tense decider, Keys took her second championship point to triumph 6-3 2-6 7-5 in just over two hours. She broke down in tears – and embraced her coach and husband Bjorn Fratangelo – while Sabalenka hit her racquet on her bag in frustration before leaving the court before the trophy ceremony. .

Keys, who turned pro aged 14, becomes the first player to defeat the top two seeds at the Australian Open since Serena Williams in 2005.

Keys was racked with nerves when she lost her first Grand Slam final to her friend Sloane Stephens at the 2017 USW Open.

But the American, who turns 30 next month, played without fear to cause a huge shock just two months after her wedding.

Madison Keys won the first Grand Slam title of her career (Image: Getty)

She outpowered and out-thought the big-hitting Belarusian in the match of her life.

Sabalenka started the match with two double faults as she was broken in the opening game. She was broken again to trail 1-4 after only 17 minutes as Keys outpowered her from the baseline.

The American made a remarkable 15 of her first 16 first serves (93%) to lead 5-1 and Sabalenka had to save a frst set point with a big serve.

Serving for the first set at 5-2, Keys was broken for the first time but she took her second set point on the Belarusian’s serve in the next game with a backhand winner down the line after 35 breathless minutes. The Belarusian, who has a tiger tattoo on her arm, looked totally toothless in the opening set.

Aryna Sabalenka had won the title the previous two years (Image: Getty)

Keys held her serve in the 12-point opening game of the second set before Sabalenka finally showed why she is the best player in the world.

Using drop shots as well as her power from the baseline, the three-time Grand Slam champion won five games in row and took her third set point when Keys sent a forehand long. The match was all square after 80 minutes.

There were no break points in the serve-dominated deciding set before Keys led 5-6 15-40 – and she took her second match point with a brilliant inside out forehand winner.