Jelena Dokic's husband question vindicated after Madison Keys' Australian Open triumph

OPINION

Anyone who thinks it was wrong or inappropriate for Jelena Dokic to ask Madison Keys about having her husband as her coach was put firmly in their place on Saturday night when it was revealed just how important their personal and working relationship was to her Australian Open triumph. Keys won her maiden grand slam title after beating World No.1 and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 2-6 7-5 in a pulsating final.

Speaking after the match, the 29-year-old admitted she lost belief that she'd ever win a grand slam and probably wouldn't have if not for her coach and husband Bjorn Fratangelo. Keys' only other appearance in a grand slam final came way back in 2017 when she lost to Sloane Stephens in the US Open decider.

She endured a wretched run of injuries and disappointing performances over the two years that preceded the Australian Open, and thought she'd blown her best chance to win a major. But the American became the oldest grand slam champion in a decade on Saturday night when she dethroned Sabalenka.

Madison Keys reveals how husband and coach helped her

Keys previously revealed how a decision to change her racquet from Wilson to Yonex - on the advice of Fratangelo - turned her fortunes around and saw her win 10 matches straight this summer, claiming the Adelaide International title before the Australian Open. And she believes if not for her coach and husband - whom she only married last November - she wouldn't be holding the Australian Open trophy.

"I have the absolute greatest team," she said while cradling the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup on Saturday night. "They have really believed in me in the moments that I did not believe in myself, and they basically helped me completely rebuild after some pretty bad injuries last year.

"And I have the most supportive, best husband in the entire world, who did not even want to coach me and I was like, 'Please, come with me'. It took some arm-twisting and he has been the most supportive and he has fully believed in me every step of the way. If it was not for those three people who have been cheering me on all week, in all of the three-set matches, I would not be here."

RELATED:

• Novak Djokovic goes public with damning photo amid Open 'disgrace'

• Aryna Sabalenka stuns with runner-up speech after ugly meltdown

Jelena Dokic's question for Madison Keys completely relevant

It shows why Dokic's question to Keys about her husband earlier in the tournament was completely valid. Interviewing Keys on-court after her win over Danielle Collins in the third round, Dokic asked the American what married life was like and the dynamic around having your husband as your coach.

"We’ve been married for about two months so if you need marital advice just call me. I think I’ve got it figured out," Keys joked. “It’s good that we get to see each other. He used to play as well so we would go long times not seeing each other. So it’s wonderful seeing him.

“Having to admit that he’s right isn’t always my favourite thing. It happens a lot more than I want it to. I’m learning just to kind of nod and he knows I’m just saying, ‘Yeah, he’s right’.” Dokic replied jokingly: “I can see you don’t like that”.

The majority of the tennis world has been full of praise for Dokic's analysis and interviews, but there was a small section of fans who labelled the husband questions to Keys "inappropriate" and "disrespectful". Some felt there weren't enough questions about Keys' actual performance against Collins, even though Dokic did ask what it was like playing someone she's known for so long.

Dokic even made a point of responding to the criticism on social media when an article was written about it, slamming the negative reactions. The fact of the matter is the question was completely reasonable and entirely relevant given the important role Fratangelo has played. Dokic was on the ball before the majority of the tennis world, and Keys' tribute to her husband on Saturday night is the perfect example.