Madison Keys becomes 12th woman to achieve this impressive feat: ft. Serena Williams & Aryna Sabalenka

After defeating the likes of Elena Rybakina, Elina Svitolina, Danielle Collins, and Iga Swiatek at the 2025 Australian Open, it would be fair to say that Madison Keys fully deserved her place in her second Grand Slam final.
However, in doing so, she became the 12th woman this century to reach one or more finals at both hard-court Grand Slams.
Keys lost her first final to Sloane Stephens at the US Open 2017 and will face world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka at this year’s Australian Open final.
Lindsay Davenport
The American opened the century with a title lift at the 2000 Australian Open – defeating Martina Hingis 6-1, 7-5. Davenport would also make the final in 2005, but lost a heartbreaking 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 contest to Serena Williams.
At her home slam – the US Open – she also made the final in 2000, but could not replicate her Melbourne success, falling to Venus Williams 6-4, 7-5.
Overall, Davenport made three hard-court Grand Slam finals.
Serena Williams
The 23-time Grand Slam champion holds many records, but she was also the first woman to win at least one final at both hard-court Grand Slams this century.
At the Australian Open, Williams won the title on seven occasions – in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015 and 2017. In 2016, she also made the final but lost to German Angelique Kerber.
The former world No 1 also dominated the US Open, lifting the trophy in 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013, and 2014 – and also making the final in 2001 and 2011.
In total, she made 15 hard-court Grand Slam finals
Venus Williams
Switching to the other half of the Williams Sisters, Venus Williams, famously, never managed to win the Australian Open.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion made the final on two occasions, in both 2003 and 2017 – where she was unfortunate enough to face her sister in the Saturday showpiece match.
In New York, the former No 1 opened the century with back-to-back titles (2000 and 2001), and a final the year after (2003). After the impressive run at the turn of the Millennium, Venus Williams was never able to make another final at the US Open.
In total, she made five hard-court Grand Slam finals.
Justine Henin
Henin sought to break up the dominance of the Williams sisters and did so with great success.
At the Australian Open, the Belgian made the final on three out of the four occasions at which she appeared at the tournament between 2004 and 2010. In 2004, she beat Kim Clijsters 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to lift her first – and only – title in Australia, but fell in the final in both 2006 and 2010.
Henin won the US Open women’s singles title in both 2003 and 2007, also reaching the final in 2006 – where she had to retire against Amelie Mauresmo.
Overall, she made six hard-court Grand Slam finals.
Kim Clijsters
As mentioned previously, Clijsters lost a three-set final at the 2004 Australian Open against her fellow countrywoman Henin. However, she got her hands on the trophy in 2011 – battling back from a set down to beat Li Na in the final.
Whilst the Belgian ‘only’ managed to win one title in Melbourne, she had greater success at the US Open. After falling to Henin in New York in the final of the 2003 edition, Clijsters would win the event on her next three participations: in 2005, 2009, and 2010.
Like Henin, Clijsters made six hard-court Grand Slam finals.
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Maria Sharapova
The Russian made the final at the Australian Open on four occasions – in 2007, 2008, 2012, and 2015. Sharapova lost three of the four, twice to Serena Williams, and once to Victoria Azarenka – but defeated Ana Ivanovic 7-5, 6-3 in the 2008 final.
The former No 1 was less successful in New York, reaching a singular final at the 2006 US Open where she overcame Justine Henin 6-4, 6-4.
Overall, Sharapova made five hard-court Grand Slam finals.
Victoria Azarenka
The Belarusian made the Australian Open final on two occasions, winning the title back-to-back in 2012 and 2013. In her first final, she dominated Sharapova 6-3, 6-0, and also battled back against Li Na 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to claim her last major title.
At the US Open, Azarenka’s efficiency in finals was not comparable, losing all three finals in which she participated – 2012, 2013, and 2020. It was in that 2020 final – played without a crowd, due to the COVID-19 outbreak – that she suffered a heartbreaking loss against Naomi Osaka, after leading by a set and a break.
Overall, Azarenka made five hard-court Grand Slam finals.
Angelique Kerber
The German made three of her four Grand Slam finals in 2016, including at both the Australian Open and the US Open.
In Melbourne, Kerber collected her first Grand Slam as she defeated Serena Williams 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, and handed the American her sole Australian Open final loss.
At the US Open, Kerber defeated Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 and further aided her eventual year-end No 1 accomplishment in 2016.
Caroline Wozniacki
The Dane claimed her hard-fought first – and only – major title at the 2018 Australian Open, overcoming Simona Halep 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4. Wozniacki was unable to make the final at any other edition of the Melbourne Grand Slam.
At the US Open, the former world No 1 fell to Kim Clijsters 7-5, 6-3 in the 2009 final, and lost out 6-3 6-3 to Serena Williams in the 2014 final.
Overall, Wozniacki made three hard-court Grand Slam finals.
Naomi Osaka
The Japanese superstar was ruthless in all four of her Grand Slam finals, lifting the trophy in all.
At the Australian Open, Osaka defeated Petra Kvitova 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-4 in the 2019 final, before dominating Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-3 during the final in 2021.
Likewise, the four-time Grand Slam champion won both of her US Open finals – defeating Serena Williams 6-2, 6-4 in 2018, and Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in 2020.
Overall, Osaka has made four hard-court Grand Slam finals.
Aryna Sabalenka
Keys will face Sabalenka during the 2025 Australian Open final, and she will have her work cut out for her, with her Belarusian opponent having previously made four hard-court Grand Slam finals.
In Melbourne, Sabalenka has made the final at the last three editions – beating Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in 2023, and Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2 in 2024.
At the US Open, Sabalenka lost out to American Coco Gauff 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the 2023 final, but got her hands on the trophy a year later, overcoming Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in the final.
Madison Keys
As stated earlier, Keys made her first hard-court Grand Slam final at the 2017 US Open – being dominated 6-3, 6-0 by Sloane Stephens.
Her match against Aryna Sabalenka at the 2025 Australian Open will be her second hard-court Grand Slam final, which sees her join the elite list.