Madison Keys overcomes injury to down Jessica Pegula for Adelaide title, Gael Monfils breaks Roger Federer record
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Updated 11/01/2025 at 13:06 GMT
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Madison Keys ended her preparations for the 2025 Australian Open in sparkling fashion, defeating compatriot, top seed and close friend Jessica Pegula to take the Adelaide International. Her ninth tour title was not without its hurdles, as an upper leg injury hampered her second-set performance. Elsewhere, Gael Monfils broke a record set by Roger Federer in 2019.
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Madison Keys battled through injury to beat top seed Jessica Pegula 6-3 4-6 6-1 in the final of the Adelaide International.
In the final of her first appearance in Adelaide since winning the 2022 edition, Keys requested a medical timeout in the second set to treat an upper leg injury.
The 29-year-old did not let the strapping on her left thigh hold her back, though, and closed out the decider with ease to boost hopes she can match her best finish at the Australian Open.
Having reached the semi-finals in Melbourne on two occasions, in 2015 and 2022, Keys offered to dissect the match with her opponent on their upcoming flight west.
"I haven't been back since 2022," said Keys in her post-match on-court interview.
"And I was lucky enough to lift the trophy then and now I'm back and I'm holding it once again, so I'm thinking I should just keep coming back to Adelaide. I clearly do well here."
"Jessie, amazing playing. Way to come out of the gates first week of the year and make the finals. We can discuss the match later when we're flying together, if you want."
Keys will take on another compatriot, Ann Li, in the first round of the 2025 Australian Open - live on Eurosport and discovery+ - while world No. 7 Pegula faces home favourite and wildcard Maya Joint.
It was Keys’ ninth title on the WTA Tour and she hit 10 aces to Pegula’s three across the final, with four of those coming in the almost flawless third set.
In the men's competition, Felix Auger-Aliassime picked up his sixth ATP Tour title, defeating Sebastian Korda 6-3 3-6 6-1.
It was the Canadian's first outdoor title against an opponent who was playing his first competitive tournament since his recovery from elbow surgery in October.
"Seb, we’ve known each other for a while, we always push each other," said Auger-Aliassime, via ATP Tour. "I arrived 10 days ago and I have enjoyed every single day.
"Most importantly, thank you to my team, my group, my dad. Thank you for everything. Thank you also to my family back home, my fiancée and her family. It’s the best support you can have as a player. I enjoy working everyday with you all. Let’s push to have a great year."
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‘Ready to give it my best’ – Raducanu confident ahead of the Australian Open
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Monfils makes history in Auckland
Gael Monfils became the oldest man to win a tour-level title since 1977, overcoming Zizou Bergs in straight sets to take the ASB Classic in Auckland.
The 38-year-old has an all-French first-round match-up with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard to contend with in Melbourne next week and showed his experience to outshine his Belgian opposition on Saturday.
The 6-3 6-4 victory in New Zealand took a shade over an hour and a half to complete, with Monfils earning breaks of serve early in both sets.
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The Frenchman is entering his third decade on the ATP Tour, and is now its oldest winner since it was founded in 1990, topping Roger Federer’s record set in Basel six years ago.
"It means a lot [to win]. Age is a number," Monfils said in his on-court interview. "But we keep working. I keep believing that I can play high-quality tennis and I have been showing it this week so I am very happy.
"[My first title] was 20 years ago. I still have the passion to play tennis. I feel I [can] still strike the ball very well. Hopefully, many more to come."
Monfils still has a way to go to beat Ken Rosewall’s record of winning a title at tour level aged 43, which the Australian achieved in Hong Kong in 1977.
Elsewhere, McCartney Kessler became the third American in a row to pick up the trophy at the Hobart International, as Elise Mertens had to settle for runner-up once more.
The Belgian was beaten in the final by Emma Navarro last season, and again pushed her opponent to a decider on Saturday.
Kessler’s 6-4 3-6 6-0 victory confirmed her second WTA Tour title, after winning Tennis in the Land last summer.
The 25-year-old will hope to take her fine form into Melbourne, where she will face wildcard Zhang Shuai in the first round.
Watch and stream the 2025 Australian Open live on Eurosport and discovery+
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