Sat Jan 25 12:15:44 IST 2025: ## Sabalenka Seeks Historic Australian Open Three-peat, Faces Keys in Final
**Melbourne, Australia** – Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka will face American Madison Keys in the Australian Open final on Saturday, vying for a historic three-peat. A victory would make Sabalenka only the sixth woman to achieve this feat, joining tennis legends Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, and Martina Hingis – a milestone unmatched in 25 years.
For Sabalenka, the win would be her fourth Grand Slam title and solidify her dominance. She boasts a 20-match winning streak at the Australian Open, a feat only matched by Serena Williams and Iga Swiatek in recent years at other majors. The Belarusian expressed her awe at the opportunity, stating, “It’s crazy that I’m in a situation where I have a chance to put my name next to legends.”
Keys, on the other hand, is aiming for her first Grand Slam title in her second Grand Slam final appearance (her first was the 2017 US Open). Her journey to the final has been nothing short of impressive, including a stunning upset over world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the semifinals. The 29-year-old American, the oldest women’s finalist since the Williams sisters in 2017, acknowledged the pressure but expressed a newfound approach to handling nerves. “Instead of trying to shy away from that and search for settling or comfort, just being OK that that’s the situation — and you can also play tennis through that — is something that I’ve been working really hard on,” she said.
The match between Sabalenka and Keys, who have met five times previously (Sabalenka winning four), promises a compelling showdown. The final will begin at 2 pm IST and will be broadcast on the Sony Sports Network and streamed on Sony LIV in India.
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