Madison Keys of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Iga Swiatek of Poland in their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, early Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
FILE - Madison Keys, of the United States, left, holds up the finalist trophy as Sloane Stephens, of the United States, holds the championship trophy after Stephens won the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, in New York.
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts during her semifinal match against Paula Badosa of Spain at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.
Madison Keys of the U.S. plays a forehand return to Iga Swiatek of Poland during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus plays a forehand return to Paula Badosa of Spain during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.
Madison Keys of the U.S. signs autographs after defeating Iga Swiatek of Poland in their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, early Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
Madison Keys of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Iga Swiatek of Poland in their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, early Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
Madison Keys, right, of the U.S. is congratulated by Iga Swiatek of Poland following their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, early Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts during her semifinal match against Paula Badosa of Spain at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.
Australian Open: Madison Keys can win her first Slam title and stop Aryna Sabalenka's threepeat
The Madison Keys who will play two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka for the title at the Australian Open on Saturday night is not the same Madison Keys who was the runner-up at the U.S. Open back in 2017, the one other time the American participated in a Grand Slam final
Madison Keys of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Iga Swiatek of Poland in their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, early Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
Vincent Thian - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
FILE - Madison Keys, of the United States, left, holds up the finalist trophy as Sloane Stephens, of the United States, holds the championship trophy after Stephens won the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, in New York.
Julio Cortez - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts during her semifinal match against Paula Badosa of Spain at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.
Madison Keys of the U.S. plays a forehand return to Iga Swiatek of Poland during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus plays a forehand return to Paula Badosa of Spain during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.
Manish Swarup - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Madison Keys of the U.S. signs autographs after defeating Iga Swiatek of Poland in their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, early Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
Madison Keys of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Iga Swiatek of Poland in their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, early Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
Madison Keys, right, of the U.S. is congratulated by Iga Swiatek of Poland following their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, early Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts during her semifinal match against Paula Badosa of Spain at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Madison Keys who will play two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka for the title at the Australian Open on Saturday night is not the same Madison Keys who was the runner-up at the U.S. Open back in 2017, the one other time the American participated in a Grand Slam final.
Her racket is different, for one thing, a switch made ahead of this season to help protect her right shoulder and offer more controlled power. Her coach is different, too, as of 2023: her husband, Bjorn Fratangelo. And her mindset is different, Keys explained a little past 1 a.m. on Friday after upsetting Iga Swiatek in the semifinals at Melbourne Park.
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