Auger-Aliassime and Keys lift Adelaide titles ahead of Aussie Open

Feix Auger-Aliassime and Madison Keys completed the perfect preparation for the Australian Open Saturday when they claimed top honours at the Adelaide International.

Keys upset top seed and world number seven Jessica Pegula to win the event for a second time in a major confidence-boost ahead of the opening Grand Slam of the year.

The world number 20 duplicated her 2022 trophy at Memorial Drive by defeating her American compatriot 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 for a ninth WTA crown.

Canada’s Auger-Aliassime fired down 10 aces to beat American Sebastian Korda 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in the men’s final, earning his sixth career trophy.

He is on a five-match win streak which began last week with his victory over world number four Taylor Fritz at the United Cup.

“We’ve known each other for a while, we always push each other,” said Auger-Aliassime of Korda, who was competing in his first tournament since undergoing elbow surgery in October.

Keys came back from a medical timeout in the second set after treatment on her left knee to watch her good friend Pegula, last year’s US Open finalist, take the final into a deciding set.

But she rallied to deliver the win on her first match point, setting her up nicely for an Australian Open first-round clash against another American, Ann Li.

“Jess had an amazing week, coming out of the gates in the first week and making the final,” said Keys, who won her last title in May at Strasbourg.

“I also got off to a good start and I’m looking forward for what’s to come this season.

“I haven’t been back here (Adelaide) since 2022 when I won the title. I feel I should be back every year in Adelaide.”

Pegula admitted she was clearly outplayed.

“I had like, three winners, it was tough,” she said.

“Maddie hits the ball harder than anyone, she played some amazing tennis.

“This was a good week to start the season for me. I’m excited to keep it going into Melbourne,” Pegula added.

The Australian Open at Melbourne Park gets underway on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka will begin her quest for a historic third consecutive Australian Open crown when the first Grand Slam of the year begins on Sunday.

The Belarusian world number one headlines the evening session on the main Rod Laver Arena in a potentially tricky encounter with 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens at 7:00 pm (0800 GMT).

Men’s second seed Alexander Zverev rounds off the first night against the dangerous Lucas Pouille of France, who made the semi-finals at Melbourne Park in 2019 before losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen of China has the honour of playing the first point of the tournament on centre court when the fifth seed faces Romania’s 110th-ranked Anca Todoni at 11:30am (0030 GMT).

Sabalenka is aiming to become the first woman since Martina Hingis (1997-99) to win three consecutive Australian Opens.

If she lifts the winner’s Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup again, Sabalenka will join a select group of Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Hingis as the only women to complete a Melbourne three-peat.

“I know that I have the possibility of joining legends by winning three times in a row,” Sabalenka said.

“Hopefully by the end of this tournament I’ll be able to put my name into history.”

Agencies