Australian Open 2025: New Yonex Members Capture Dream Trophies in Magical Finish at Melbourne Park

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - The first Grand Slam of 2025 will be one to remember for fans - and the extended Yonex family. Madison Keys' (USA) Australian Open triumph came 10 years after she reached her first major semifinal and highlighted a series of dramatic finishes across Melbourne Park.

Keys Opens the Door to Her Dreams... with a Yonex Racquet

Who could have predicted such a stunning conclusion to this beautiful story at the outset of the Australian Open? Keys, now 29 years old and ranked 14th in the world, entered the tournament as the 19th seed.

Her resurgence was evident during her impressive title run at the Adelaide International, where she showcased the results of her hard work in the off-season, including adjustments to her equipment and overall game.

Having turned pro at 14 and being hailed as a "child prodigy," Keys had long pursued the major dream of any tennis star: a Grand Slam singles title. The decision to revisit her equipment came on the advice of her husband, Bjorn Fratangelo, whom she married in November last year.

"Bjorn and I, we were kind of starting to tinker with some things last year, making some changes," Keys said, reflecting on the past few months.

"I kind of fell in love pretty quickly. I definitely think that I have a level of trust in things more with this racquet."

One significant improvement was the newfound stability in her game - thanks to the new racquet.

"I think one of the big things is, especially on the days where I'm not really feeling [the ball], I felt like I have the ability to manipulate things with my racquet and my hands and have more safety. I was struggling with that before."

Her ability to perform at a high level consistently was evident in her results. Her winning streak, which began in Adelaide, extended to 12 matches in Melbourne. She defeated 2022 finalist Elena Rybakina (KAZ) in the fourth round and World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in a thrilling semifinal -while also scoring a win over Elina Svitolina in between.

Then she clinched her first Grand Slam title, defeating two-time reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in the final.

The winning shot for the title was a calm, precisely placed inside-out forehand winner. It was a long-awaited triumph, achieved through years of hard work and the power and control gained with her new racquet.

Talking about her EZONE racquet, Keys said:

"So, I've been using the EZONE 98 and I absolutely love it. I feel like I have more easy power, but I also have been able to control the ball.

I feel like, especially when playing someone who hits really big, I've been able to absorb the ball a little bit more.

I feel like it's just really helped me elevate my game so that I can be a little bit more aggressive, but also have the control that I need to feel comfort to keep going for all my shots. "

Men's Singles: Ben Shelton Reaches Career Second Grand Slam Semifinal

In men's singles, Ben Shelton (USA) reached the semifinals for the first time at the Australian Open, marking another milestone in his rapidly rising career. He tied the tournament's fastest serve speed at 232 km/h (144.2 mph) and thrilled fans with his dynamic and powerful game.

Shelton's impressive run came to an end against eventual champion Jannik Sinner. At just 22 years old, Shelton has already reached two Grand Slam semifinals, highlighting his immense potential and bright future in the sport.