Australian Open 2025: New Yonex Members Capture Dream Trophies in Magical Finish at Melbourne Park

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – The first Grand Slam of 2025 will be one to remember for fans - and the extended Yonex family. Madison Keys' (USA) Australian Open triumph came 10 years after she reached her first major semifinal and highlighted a series of dramatic finishes across Melbourne Park.  

Keys Opens the Door to Her Dreams... with a Yonex Racquet

Who could have predicted such a stunning conclusion to this beautiful story at the outset of the Australian Open? Keys, now 29 years old and ranked 14th in the world, entered the tournament as the 19th seed.

Her resurgence was evident during her impressive title run at the Adelaide International, where she showcased the results of her hard work in the off-season, including adjustments to her equipment and overall game.

Having turned pro at 14 and being hailed as a “child prodigy,” Keys had long pursued the major dream of any tennis star: a Grand Slam singles title. The decision to revisit her equipment came on the advice of her husband, Bjorn Fratangelo, whom she married in November last year.

“I kind of fell in love pretty quickly. I definitely think that I have a level of trust in things more with this racquet.”

“I think one of the big things is, especially on the days where I'm not really feeling [the ball], I felt like I have the ability to manipulate things with my racquet and my hands and have more safety. I was struggling with that before.”

Her ability to perform at a high level consistently was evident in her results. Her winning streak, which began in Adelaide, extended to 12 matches in Melbourne. She defeated 2022 finalist Elena Rybakina (KAZ) in the fourth round and World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in a thrilling semifinal —while also scoring a win over Elina Svitolina in between.

Then she clinched her first Grand Slam title, defeating two-time reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in the final.

The winning shot for the title was a calm, precisely placed inside-out forehand winner. It was a long-awaited triumph, achieved through years of hard work and the power and control gained with her new racquet.

 

Talking about her EZONE racquet, Keys said:


“So, I've been using the EZONE 98 and I absolutely love it. I feel like I have more easy power, but I also have been able to control the ball.

I feel like, especially when playing someone who hits really big, I've been able to absorb the ball a little bit more.

I feel like it's just really helped me elevate my game so that I can be a little bit more aggressive, but also have the control that I need to feel comfort to keep going for all my shots. ”


Men’s Singles: Ben Shelton Reaches Career Second Grand Slam Semifinal

In men’s singles, Ben Shelton (USA) reached the semifinals for the first time at the Australian Open, marking another milestone in his rapidly rising career. He tied the tournament’s fastest serve speed at 232 km/h (144.2 mph) and thrilled fans with his dynamic and powerful game.

Shelton’s impressive run came to an end against eventual champion Jannik Sinner. At just 22 years old, Shelton has already reached two Grand Slam semifinals, highlighting his immense potential and bright future in the sport.

 

 

Doubles: Yonex Scores Triumphs in Both Men's and Women's Doubles

Harri Heliovaara (FIN), who won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon last year with Henry Patten, triumphed again in Melbourne alongside the same partner. Their victory came in a dramatic three-hour-and-four-minute final against Italy’s Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, with a scoreline of 6-7(16), 7-6(5), 6-3.

After dropping the first set in a historic tiebreak that ended 16-18 where the duo had 10 set points, they mounted an incredible comeback to claim the title.

In the women’s doubles, the top-seeded pair of Taylor Townsend (USA) and Katerina Siniakova claimed the championship. For Townsend, the victory came 13 years after she was crowned champion in the junior girls' singles in 2012, marking a remarkable full-circle moment in her career.

 

Wheelchair Tennis: Hewett Dominates to Secure 10th Grand Slam Singles Title

Alfie Hewett (GBR), one of Yonex’s newest members this season, made history over the weekend in Melbourne. His decision to switch racquets was motivated by a part of his ongoing effort to refine his game and increase his power on court.

“So we tried a lot of different racquets. The Yonex Ezone was the one I really liked from the beginning,” Hewett explained.

What Hewett sought was "power"—and his strategy paid off. He showcased a commanding performance against current World No. 1 and fellow Yonex player, Tokito Oda (JPN), using a series of powerful winners to claim victory. The British star also won the doubles, teaming up with Gordon Reid, achieving the prestigious double crown.

 

 

Xiaohui Li and Wang Ziying Become First Chinese Champions in Wheelchair Tennis

In women’s wheelchair doubles, Xiaohui Li (CHN) teamed up with compatriot Wang Ziying (CHN) to secure the title. Li had previously been a quarterfinalist in doubles at last year’s Australian Open and reached the semifinals at both the French Open and Wimbledon. Their victory made the duo the first Chinese wheelchair tennis Grand Slam champions, marking a historic milestone for Chinese tennis.

 

 

Madison Keys (USA) | EZONE 98 / POLYTOUR REV 125

Ben Shelton (USA) | EZONE 98 / POLYTOUR STRIKE 125 / POLYTOUR PRO 125

Harri Heliovaara (FIN) | PERCEPT 97

Taylor Townsend (USA) | EZONE 98 / POLYTOUR SPIN 120 / POLYTOUR PRO 115

Alfie Hewett (GBR) | EZONE 98L

Tokito Oda (JPN) | EZONE 100L / POLYTOUR SPIN 125 / POLYTOUR PRO 125

Xiaohui Li (CHN) | EZONE 100 / ECLIPSION 5

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