Keys and Sabalenka have met five times previously, with the Belarusian winning four, most recently on Beijing’s hard courts last year. Keys’s sole win came on grass in Berlin in 2021. At Roland Garros Justine Henin completed the treble in 2007 and Iga Swiatek emulated it last year. Serena Williams won 23 Grand Slam singles titles but only managed a hat-trick once, at the US Open from 2012-14. “Not a lot of long points.” “She’s playing incredible tennis,” said Sabalenka. Aryna Sablenka will remain World No.1 even if she loses the Australian Open women’s singles final to Madison Keys. Sabalenka was guaranteed the top spot once second seed Iga Swiatek lost to Keys in the semi-final. The Belarus tennis ace currently has 9656 rating points compared to Swiatek’s 8120. 19th seed Keys will break into the top 10 irrespective of the result in Sunday’s final. She will reach a career-high if she manages to upset Sabalenka and lift her maiden Grand Slam title. Defending champion Sabalenka was hailed by beaten semi-finalist Paula Badosa as being so good it was “like she’s playing a PlayStation” after dishing out a merciless straight-sets bludgeoning to her good friend. “Definitely some big-hitting. I think that is going to happen,” the powerful 19th seed Keys predicted of the final between two similar power players. The never-say-die American Keys, who will turn 30 next month, saved eight break points and a match point in a nerve-shredding final set against Iga Swiatek that went all the way to a 10-point tiebreak.