MELBOURNE, Australia — In a commanding performance during the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Iga Swiatek triumphed over No. 8 seed Emma Navarro with a score of 6-1, 6-2 on Wednesday.
The Polish athlete, seeded second, has not only advanced without losing a set throughout the tournament but has also conceded a mere 14 games. Swiatek is on the hunt for her first title at Melbourne Park and aims to secure her sixth Grand Slam championship overall. The last female player to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open while surrendering fewer than 15 games was Maria Sharapova in 2013.
“I’m really happy with the tournament so far,” Swiatek commented. She is set to face No. 19 Madison Keys from the United States on Thursday night for a chance to proceed to the finals. “Being in the semis is fantastic. I’m pushing for more.”
During the match, Swiatek benefitted from what looked like a questionable missed double-bounce on a point she secured in the second set; however, Navarro chose not to request a video review immediately. Regardless, Swiatek’s superiority was evident, even if she downplayed the experience afterward.
“I believe it was way tougher than the score reflects,” Swiatek remarked, acknowledging Navarro’s competitive spirit. “Emma’s a fighter… I aimed to stay focused and maintain my intensity.”
In the other women’s semifinal matchup, No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning two-time champion, will face her good friend No. 11 Paula Badosa.
Meanwhile, Keys advanced to her third semifinal in Australia after overcoming Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Keys, who previously reached the finals at the 2017 U.S. Open, is aware of the challenge ahead. “Madison is a great player and is very experienced,” Swiatek noted regarding her upcoming opponent, with whom she has a 4-1 record. “I’ll be focused on my game.”
Keys, using a new racket this season, is currently enjoying a 10-match winning streak, including a title win at a pre-tournament event in Adelaide. Her journey to the semifinals in Melbourne has included victories over two past Australian Open finalists, Danielle Collins and Elina Rybakina.
In her previous semifinal matches in Melbourne, Keys faced defeats against eventual champions Serena Williams in 2015 and Ash Barty in 2022. “I think I’m playing a bit smarter now… probably with a little less fear,” Keys stated.
Svitolina, a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist, initially controlled the first set before Keys made crucial tactical adjustments, particularly by seeking more net approaches. Keys won 23 out of 26 points at the net and recorded a total of 49 winners—23 from her strong forehand.
Although Keys encountered challenges in her return games, she finally broke through, converting her seventh break chance to establish a 4-2 lead in the second set.
“Iga is tough to beat because she has a lot of natural spin on both sides,” Keys explained, analyzing her next opponent. “Her serving and returning are strong, and she has exceptional movement. The main difficulty in defeating her originates from her agility; if you slightly miss your target, she has the time to recover, making the point neutral once again.”