January 25, 2025 • 10 mins
American tennis player Madison Keys feels letting go of the need to be a Grand Slam champion has been the key to her finally becoming one.
The 29-year-old's beaten top seed and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka across three sets in the Australian Open final.
The maiden major title comes at the 46th attempt for Keys.
Tennis commentator Craig Gabriel joined Piney to recap the action.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
But to the tennis Madison Keys is a Grand Slam
tennis champion at the forty sixth attempt.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Madison Keys, you're a Grand Slam champion. What incredible tennis
and what a match?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
What a match? Ind The twenty nine year old American
Madison Keys has upset top seed and double defending champion
Arena Sablenka sixty three two six, seven to five in
the final. Craig Gabriel joins us from Melbourne. What a
few days it's been for Madison Keys, Craig. She beat
Egish Fiontech in the semifinal, the world number two, now
(00:55):
Arena Sablenka in the final, the world number one. How
has she done it?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Tonal Vision? This was her time.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
The number of players past and present that have saluted
her on social media is pretty phenomenal. And in twenty seventeen,
she reached the final of the US Open and lost
to Sloane Stevens, who was one of her really good friends.
And Sloan has tweeted it's never been a case of if,
(01:26):
but it always has been a case of when and
absolutely excited for her, and it's one of the most
popular victories in the women's locker room. There's no two
ways about it. The smile on her face, the tears
of joy were just absolutely brilliant. And what she achieved
(01:48):
by beating a world number two in the semis and
then the world number one in the final is an
amazing achievement. It's not something that's done too often. I
think Serena Williams was the last one to do something
like that, and so that in itself isn't fredibly special.
So all around, this has been an amazing not just
(02:13):
this tournament but these few weeks in Australia because she
came into the Australian Open having one adelaide, so obviously
she loves playing in Australia because she's one adelaide before.
So yeah, maybe we should just adopt her.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Perhaps so, But do you think in her heart of hearts,
in her deepest, darkest moment, she might have thought, having
been forty five Majors without a win, that it just
wasn't going to happen for her.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Well, look, you know with all the players there, so yeah,
there are doubts and all that but at the same time,
they have to have belief. If you don't have belief,
you might as well not walk on the court. And
there was that, but she said that she had started
working with in therapy to give her some of that
(03:04):
understanding as to why things for not happening. She's an
Initially she did it for the sports aspect, but she's
now done it for the personal aspect. And she said
she was admitting things that she hated to admit and
she never wanted to and didn't like doing. But she
said it's helped her on the mental side of her
approach to life, but also to her professional career. So
(03:29):
it's all fallen into place. She's going to be ranked
at a career equal best of seven in the world,
so it's it's all fantastic. And she and she puts
away three and a half million dollars.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Twenty nine years old, now medicine case. Could she having
won one now, Craig win a few more?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Why not?
Speaker 4 (03:50):
I mean, you get the monkey if you're back the
first time and doors start to open. There is this
level of confidence. And don't expect her to go winning
week after week after week, title after title.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
That's not going to happen. That's you know, that's for
some of the freaks of the game.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
But you know, I dare say she could suffer a
bit of a letdown after this, because you're such an
adrenaline high that once these sort of things are done,
there's sort of like an empty feeling. And you know,
I wouldn't be surprised if she loses her next few tournaments,
but then she'll get back on track and pick things
up again.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
But absolutely the door is open for her to win more.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
For every elighted winner, there's a disappointed loser. Tell us
about the demeanor of Arena Seblinka, Well.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
There's a lot of frustration that came out of her
because she really wanted an obviously soul to put her
name into into the history books or rewrite some of
it by winning a third title in a row, which
hasn't been done for twenty five plus years. Martina Hingis
was the last one to do it from ninety seven
to ninety nine, So you know, there was that frustration
(05:02):
that came out at the end when after they shook
hands and the rat she used in the match will
not be used in the tennis match again. So it
was a mess but you know, and then she left
the court and she said, I needed to get off
the court. I needed some time to myself and to compose,
you know, to be a bit more composed when she
went back for the presentation ceremony, and she gave a
(05:25):
very gracious speech at the end.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
So men's singles final tonight in the top two seats,
defending champion Yannick Center against Alexander Zverev, who's still looking
for his first major. When could Ziev perhaps take some
inspiration from Medicine.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Keys, Absolutely well, I wouldn't say so much from Madison Keys,
but I think he's he's got the determination to do it.
He can absolutely do it. You know, he desperately wants it.
He's made that clear. He's been in two finals previously.
The US Open was the first one. He lost a
Dominique team and after having championship points, and then he
(06:03):
lost to Kalas Alcarez in the French Open final. He
feels it's his time now and he wants to wants
this very badly. He says it's something he's dreamed of
since growing you know, growing up. But then he's got
the world number one on the other side of the
quart as well, who is just so amazing at the
moment as an individual, as a tennis player. So I
(06:26):
hope and I would expect we're going to see an
amazing tennis match. I wouldn't say the women's match was
that great except for the last few games when it
got really quite thrilling. But I think you know, we
could see one that's going the distance tonight.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Absolutely. I don't know.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
I mean, my initial thought all along with the tournament
has been Sinner to repeat, But I just feel there
is also that that situation. As I was saying about,
it's very I feeling it's his time. So you know,
whoever wins is going to be a worthy champion.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Just on Ciner, he's been imperious straight see its wins.
This quarter has seen me I think twenty matches, I
heard you say to a twenty straight match ones number
one since June? What has impressed you most, Craig about
Yannick Sinner, not just at this tournament, but but since
he's been world number one.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
His humility, He's such an easy, down to earth person.
He's softly spoken, you know. He he's been asked, how
has being number one changed you? He says, it hasn't.
It's not changed me at all. You know, he was
asked are you unbeatable? And he explained that he's not unbeatable.
(07:40):
He just works very hard and he has a mental,
mental strength and matches to win these matches, he said,
But he could be beaten at any time somebody, some
other player may have an absolute blinder. The last time
he was beaten was in the final of Beijing in
October last year to Carlos Alcaraz and that was another
(08:01):
tight match. So nobody's unbeatable, but certainly he's a tremendous individual.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
And it wasn't to be twenty five in twenty five
for Novak Djokovic forced to retire and to see me
against fear of Do you think twenty four might be
his final number?
Speaker 3 (08:21):
I don't know. I mean, you know, there's still another
three majors in twenty five to go, the French Wimbledon
and the US Open, so he's still got some opportunities.
This year. I think it's going to get tougher.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
He turns thirty eight in May, and you know, some
of these injuries are creeping in. But I feel very
sure that he's going to give it everything he's got
and more to try and get himself across that line
and gain that record just for himself, because he shares
(08:54):
that record right now with Margaret Court on twenty four
career majors, So that's what he's striving for. Last year
he was striving for the Olympic gold medal and he
got it. He'd beat Carlos Algaaz in the final. So
you know, we'll see. But these injuries are obviously a
bit of a matter of concern. You know, he was
(09:15):
affected and rightly so with the booing when when he
retired from the Zverev match in the in the semis,
and he's posted on social media a picture of the
scan that shows there is a tear and that's why
he retired. So you know, he would not have retired
(09:35):
if he was able to play through at all, but
the pain levels were getting two intense.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Craig, have really enjoyed your coverage over the last two
weeks in Melbourne. It's type for a classic finale tonight
in the men's singles final. Thanks as always for joining
us across New Zealand. Thanks Yson, Thanks Craig, Craig Gabriel
there our man in Melbourne covering the Australian Tennis Open.
So we have our women's champion Medicine Keys beating Arena
Seblinka last night, Men's champion. Will we decided tonight on ticks?
(10:02):
Can you please tell me what time the men's final starts?
Absolutely I can. Nine to thirty tonight. Nine thirty is
the scheduled start time on rod Laver Arena. The women's
doubles final is on from five o'clock this afternoon. Unfortunately,
our own Aeron Rautliffe will not be there, beaten in
the semifinals. She and partner Gabby Dobrowski beaten in the
(10:24):
semis so it would have been nice to see Eron
Ratliffe out on rod Laver Arena later on this afternoon.
Not to be so she won't be there the men's final.
Yellick sinner Alexander Zverev one v two nine thirty tonight
at rod Laver Arena.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talk zed B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
But to the tennis Madison Keys is a Grand Slam
tennis champion at the forty sixth attempt.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Madison Keys, you're a Grand Slam champion. What incredible tennis
and what a match?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
What a match? Ind The twenty nine year old American
Madison Keys has upset top seed and double defending champion
Arena Sablenka sixty three two six, seven to five in
the final. Craig Gabriel joins us from Melbourne. What a
few days it's been for Madison Keys, Craig. She beat
Egish Fiontech in the semifinal, the world number two, now
(00:55):
Arena Sablenka in the final, the world number one. How
has she done it?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Tonal Vision? This was her time.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
The number of players past and present that have saluted
her on social media is pretty phenomenal. And in twenty seventeen,
she reached the final of the US Open and lost
to Sloane Stevens, who was one of her really good friends.
And Sloan has tweeted it's never been a case of if,
(01:26):
but it always has been a case of when and
absolutely excited for her, and it's one of the most
popular victories in the women's locker room. There's no two
ways about it. The smile on her face, the tears
of joy were just absolutely brilliant. And what she achieved
(01:48):
by beating a world number two in the semis and
then the world number one in the final is an
amazing achievement. It's not something that's done too often. I
think Serena Williams was the last one to do something
like that, and so that in itself isn't fredibly special.
So all around, this has been an amazing not just
(02:13):
this tournament but these few weeks in Australia because she
came into the Australian Open having one adelaide, so obviously
she loves playing in Australia because she's one adelaide before.
So yeah, maybe we should just adopt her.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Perhaps so, But do you think in her heart of hearts,
in her deepest, darkest moment, she might have thought, having
been forty five Majors without a win, that it just
wasn't going to happen for her.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Well, look, you know with all the players there, so yeah,
there are doubts and all that but at the same time,
they have to have belief. If you don't have belief,
you might as well not walk on the court. And
there was that, but she said that she had started
working with in therapy to give her some of that
(03:04):
understanding as to why things for not happening. She's an
Initially she did it for the sports aspect, but she's
now done it for the personal aspect. And she said
she was admitting things that she hated to admit and
she never wanted to and didn't like doing. But she
said it's helped her on the mental side of her
approach to life, but also to her professional career. So
(03:29):
it's all fallen into place. She's going to be ranked
at a career equal best of seven in the world,
so it's it's all fantastic. And she and she puts
away three and a half million dollars.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Twenty nine years old, now medicine case. Could she having
won one now, Craig win a few more?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Why not?
Speaker 4 (03:50):
I mean, you get the monkey if you're back the
first time and doors start to open. There is this
level of confidence. And don't expect her to go winning
week after week after week, title after title.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
That's not going to happen. That's you know, that's for
some of the freaks of the game.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
But you know, I dare say she could suffer a
bit of a letdown after this, because you're such an
adrenaline high that once these sort of things are done,
there's sort of like an empty feeling. And you know,
I wouldn't be surprised if she loses her next few tournaments,
but then she'll get back on track and pick things
up again.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
But absolutely the door is open for her to win more.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
For every elighted winner, there's a disappointed loser. Tell us
about the demeanor of Arena Seblinka, Well.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
There's a lot of frustration that came out of her
because she really wanted an obviously soul to put her
name into into the history books or rewrite some of
it by winning a third title in a row, which
hasn't been done for twenty five plus years. Martina Hingis
was the last one to do it from ninety seven
to ninety nine, So you know, there was that frustration
(05:02):
that came out at the end when after they shook
hands and the rat she used in the match will
not be used in the tennis match again. So it
was a mess but you know, and then she left
the court and she said, I needed to get off
the court. I needed some time to myself and to compose,
you know, to be a bit more composed when she
went back for the presentation ceremony, and she gave a
(05:25):
very gracious speech at the end.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
So men's singles final tonight in the top two seats,
defending champion Yannick Center against Alexander Zverev, who's still looking
for his first major. When could Ziev perhaps take some
inspiration from Medicine.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Keys, Absolutely well, I wouldn't say so much from Madison Keys,
but I think he's he's got the determination to do it.
He can absolutely do it. You know, he desperately wants it.
He's made that clear. He's been in two finals previously.
The US Open was the first one. He lost a
Dominique team and after having championship points, and then he
(06:03):
lost to Kalas Alcarez in the French Open final. He
feels it's his time now and he wants to wants
this very badly. He says it's something he's dreamed of
since growing you know, growing up. But then he's got
the world number one on the other side of the
quart as well, who is just so amazing at the
moment as an individual, as a tennis player. So I
(06:26):
hope and I would expect we're going to see an
amazing tennis match. I wouldn't say the women's match was
that great except for the last few games when it
got really quite thrilling. But I think you know, we
could see one that's going the distance tonight.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Absolutely. I don't know.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
I mean, my initial thought all along with the tournament
has been Sinner to repeat, But I just feel there
is also that that situation. As I was saying about,
it's very I feeling it's his time. So you know,
whoever wins is going to be a worthy champion.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Just on Ciner, he's been imperious straight see its wins.
This quarter has seen me I think twenty matches, I
heard you say to a twenty straight match ones number
one since June? What has impressed you most, Craig about
Yannick Sinner, not just at this tournament, but but since
he's been world number one.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
His humility, He's such an easy, down to earth person.
He's softly spoken, you know. He he's been asked, how
has being number one changed you? He says, it hasn't.
It's not changed me at all. You know, he was
asked are you unbeatable? And he explained that he's not unbeatable.
(07:40):
He just works very hard and he has a mental,
mental strength and matches to win these matches, he said,
But he could be beaten at any time somebody, some
other player may have an absolute blinder. The last time
he was beaten was in the final of Beijing in
October last year to Carlos Alcaraz and that was another
(08:01):
tight match. So nobody's unbeatable, but certainly he's a tremendous individual.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
And it wasn't to be twenty five in twenty five
for Novak Djokovic forced to retire and to see me
against fear of Do you think twenty four might be
his final number?
Speaker 3 (08:21):
I don't know. I mean, you know, there's still another
three majors in twenty five to go, the French Wimbledon
and the US Open, so he's still got some opportunities.
This year. I think it's going to get tougher.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
He turns thirty eight in May, and you know, some
of these injuries are creeping in. But I feel very
sure that he's going to give it everything he's got
and more to try and get himself across that line
and gain that record just for himself, because he shares
(08:54):
that record right now with Margaret Court on twenty four
career majors, So that's what he's striving for. Last year
he was striving for the Olympic gold medal and he
got it. He'd beat Carlos Algaaz in the final. So
you know, we'll see. But these injuries are obviously a
bit of a matter of concern. You know, he was
(09:15):
affected and rightly so with the booing when when he
retired from the Zverev match in the in the semis,
and he's posted on social media a picture of the
scan that shows there is a tear and that's why
he retired. So you know, he would not have retired
(09:35):
if he was able to play through at all, but
the pain levels were getting two intense.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Craig, have really enjoyed your coverage over the last two
weeks in Melbourne. It's type for a classic finale tonight
in the men's singles final. Thanks as always for joining
us across New Zealand. Thanks Yson, Thanks Craig, Craig Gabriel
there our man in Melbourne covering the Australian Tennis Open.
So we have our women's champion Medicine Keys beating Arena
Seblinka last night, Men's champion. Will we decided tonight on ticks?
(10:02):
Can you please tell me what time the men's final starts?
Absolutely I can. Nine to thirty tonight. Nine thirty is
the scheduled start time on rod Laver Arena. The women's
doubles final is on from five o'clock this afternoon. Unfortunately,
our own Aeron Rautliffe will not be there, beaten in
the semifinals. She and partner Gabby Dobrowski beaten in the
(10:24):
semis so it would have been nice to see Eron
Ratliffe out on rod Laver Arena later on this afternoon.
Not to be so she won't be there the men's final.
Yellick sinner Alexander Zverev one v two nine thirty tonight
at rod Laver Arena.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talk zed B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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