Jim Courier delivers his opinion on Aryna Sabalenka's performance in the Australian Open final after she loses to Madison Keys

Jim Courier assessed Aryna Sabalenka’s 2025 Australian Open final performance.

The Belarusian was on the brink of becoming the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to win the title at Melbourne Park three successive years.

The World number one was the favourite to claim the title, but Madison Keys had other ideas as she produced the ebay tennis of her career.

Aryna Sabalenka was outlasted by the American who claimed a 3-6, 6-2, 5-7 victory to secure the biggest championship of her career.

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What does Jim Courier think about Aryna Sabalenka’s Australian Open final performance?

Sabalenka raised her level after losing the first set and looked to grab the crucial break of serve in the final set.

But it never came, as Keys came with multiple first serves and crunching forehand winners to deny Sabalenka and continue applying the pressure.

It was Keys who grabbed the only break of serve in set three, which ensured she became champion. Sabalenka was furious and proceeded to smash her racket before walking off court.

Post-match Jim Courier assessed how Sabalenka played and credited Keys who won the first Grand Slam title of her career

“Obviously it’s devastating, she was dreaming, she was so close to that three-peat but didn’t quite get it,” he told Eurosport. “And those moments are fleeting. But she didn’t play poorly.

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“That is the one thing she has got to hang her hat on, she actually played really, really well. Madison Keys just stepped on the gas and hit some amazing shots at the finish line.

“It was one of those moments for Sabalenka, I was glad when she was in the player gym that her team took her rackets away, because they looked like they were in danger of not lasting!”

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Aryna Sabalenka explains her post-Australian Open final reaction

Sabalenka was furious and proceeded to smash her racket after shaking Keys’ hand at the net, before storming back to the locker room.

She was also seen sitting with a towel over her head as the chance to make Australian Open history slipped through her fingers. Post-match the World number one spoke to reporters and explained the reasons for her reaction.

“I think when you get to the point of finals, it’s trophy or nothing,” Sabalenka said at a press conference. “Nobody remembers the finalist, you know? Nobody puts the finalist’s name next to the winner!

“At this point, I go for titles. But I have to be proud of myself with three finals in a row. That’s something crazy. I hope that next year I’ll come back as a better player, and I’ll hold [the trophy] one more time.”

“I just needed to throw those negative emotions at the end just so I could give a speech, not stand there being disrespectful. I was just trying to let it go and be a good person, be respectful. It’s okay.”

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