Watch: Madison Keys wins first Grand Slam in thriller

Keys defeated Aryna Sabalenka, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, breaking Sabalenka's serve for the first time in the third set with a winner in the corner. It was the first career Australian Open title and first Slam for Keys, who turned pro 13 years ago as a 16-year-old. While she was a teenage prodigy, titles had eluded her as an adult, with her best-ever finish being a loss in the final of the 2017 U.S. Open.

That changed this January in Melbourne. Keys made it through a gauntlet to get the Australian Open trophy, defeating the world No. 1 in Sabalenka, the two-time defending Australian Open champion, two nights after defeating world No. 2 and five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek in the semifinals, both in three sets. Against Swiatek, Keys faced a match point before rallying to win the third-set tiebreaker, 10-8.

Keys also beat world No. 11 Danielle Collins, world No. 7 Elena Rybakina, a former Wimbledon winner, and Elina Svitolina, the last two in three sets. In fact, all four of Keys' final matches in Melbourne went the distance, showing her toughness and endurance.

Keys put herself in position for the win by smoking a return from Sabalenka while tied 30-30 and up six games to five. It was one of her best shots of the tournament, if not her entire career.

Sabalenka was devastated after the marathon loss, smashing her racket and sitting with a towel over her head. She had a chance to become the sixth woman to ever win three straight Australian Open titles, and the first since Martina Hingis (1999). But she recovered to give a gracious runner-up speech where she credited Keys and sarcastically roasted her own team, telling them, "As always, that's your fault, guys."

But the night, and the whole tournament, belonged to Keys, who got a title that even she said she thought might never come. She made it through 13 grueling years on the tour and a series of epic matches at this tournament. Now, she can finally call herself a Grand Slam champion.

And the $2.2M in prize money is nice, too.