Chicago Bulls legend and Michael Jordan's ex-teammate Ron Harper has a message for the newly crowned Australian Open 2025 champion, Madison Keys. Keys defeated the defending champion and No. 1 ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the finals that was played on Saturday, 25th January.
What was Ron Harper's message to Madison Keys?
Madison Keys was taking on Aryna Sabalenka in the 2025 Australian Open Women's final and she did the unexpected by defeating the defending champion. Harper took to his X account (formerly known as Twitter) to praise Keys as she won her first Grand Slam and send her a supportive message.
[Madison Keys] WOW her first grand slam…. Congratulations #AO2025 keep grinding many more to come…..
Madison Keys was going into the game as an underdog against Aryna Sabalenka but the No. 19 player in the WTA ranking pulled off one of the biggest upsets to clinch her first Grand Slam. Keys showed her mental resilience as she didn't commit any double faults, won four of her nine break points and had six aces in her 6-3, 2-6 and 7-5 upset.
It was rather not an easy route for Keys to reach the Australian Open 2025 finals. She defeated her fellow American Danielle Collins in the third round, sixth seed Elena Rybakina in the fourth round, 28th seed Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinal and then second seed Iga Swiatek in the semifinals. But it was rightfully noted by Harper that Keys had to grind to reach her goal.
Ron Harper's two-words response to Carmelo Anthony
Ron Harper also took some time out to react to Carmelo Anthony's comments on his ex-teammate Scottie Pippen, who recently changed his stance on the GOAT debate.
Pippen went with Magic Johnson as the greatest basketball player of all time over the great Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Pippen feels that Johnson had more obstacles and adapted more to different situations. He also recalled the time when Johnson stepped up in the finals as a rookie for the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
It was evident that Anthony got fed up with how Pippen was only talking about MJ and LeBron, telling him to change his opinion whenever he had the chance.