MELBOURNE, Australia — Iga Swiatek has been exhibiting extraordinary dominance over her competitors at the Australian Open, reminiscent of Maria Sharapova’s impressive run in 2013. In her recent quarterfinal match, Swiatek defeated the eighth seed, Emma Navarro, with a convincing score of 6-1, 6-2.
As the second seed, Swiatek remains unbeaten in the tournament, having not lost a single set and allowing only 14 games to slip through her fingers. She is eager to secure her first title at Melbourne Park, marking her sixth Grand Slam overall. The last woman to reach the semifinals in Australia while conceding fewer than 15 games was Sharapova.
Navarro praised Swiatek, stating, “She does everything with 100% conviction and intensity,” noting the challenge of matching Swiatek’s pace and style. “It’s tough to not be sort of affected by that and not feel like, ‘Okay, I have to do everything at the same speed that she’s doing it.’ So that was something, for sure, I felt a little bit today.”
Swiatek’s next opponent is American Madison Keys, seeded 19th, who is aiming for a place in the final. The other semifinal match will showcase Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed and defending champion, against her close friend Paula Badosa, ranked 11th. Keys reached this stage after overcoming Elina Svitolina in a competitive match that ended 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, marking her third semifinal appearance in Australia.
“Iga is tough to beat because she has a lot of spin on both sides. She’s a good server and a strong returner,” Keys commented. “The biggest challenge is her movement. If you miss your target slightly, she has enough time to recover, which can return the point to neutral.”
Additionally, American player Ben Shelton has made waves in the men’s bracket, advancing to the semifinals with an exciting victory over Lorenzo Sonego of Italy, closing the match at 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (4). Following his achievement, Shelton voiced his concerns during a news conference regarding the handling of post-match interviews.
Shelton, who reached the semifinals at the 2023 U.S. Open, is set to face defending champion Jannik Sinner on Friday. Sinner, meanwhile, displayed relentless skill in his matchup against Alex de Minaur, securing a straightforward 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 win, eliminating the last Australian male player in the draw.
“He is one of the best servers on tour,” Sinner said regarding Shelton. “Being left-handed and the unique rotation of his ball presents different challenges… hopefully, I’m prepared.”
The other men’s semifinal will feature a match between Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev. During the quarterfinal against Navarro, Swiatek benefitted from an overlooked double bounce during a crucial point in the second set. Navarro continued playing without challenging the call, which did not disrupt Swiatek’s impressive performance on the court.
After her victory, Swiatek modestly reflected, “I think it was much tougher than the score indicates. Emma’s a fighter, and I wanted to maintain my focus and intensity throughout.”
Swiatek has faced Keys five times, winning four of those encounters. “Madison is a terrific and experienced player, so anything can happen,” Swiatek remarked, indicating she will concentrate on her own game in their upcoming match.
Keys, who is on a winning streak of 10 matches and recently clinched a title at a hard-court event in Adelaide, has pulled off notable victories to reach the semifinals, defeating past Australian Open runners-up Danielle Collins and Elena Rybakina. She has previously faced losses in the semifinals against eventual champions Serena Williams in 2015 and Ash Barty in 2022.
“I believe I play a bit smarter now… probably a little bit less fearless,” Keys said, addressing her growth as a player.
During her match against Svitolina, Keys adapted her strategy and increased her net play, winning 23 of 26 points when approaching the net, resulting in an impressive tally of 49 winners, including 23 from her powerful forehand.
Despite some struggles during her return games, Keys finally broke through to lead 4-2 in the second set. Reflecting on her journey, she shared: “I’m beginning to appreciate my career for all it has been, realizing I don’t need a Grand Slam to validate my efforts. While it remains my goal, there were times I felt paralyzed, thinking I must win to mean something.”
In summary, the Australian Open is showcasing remarkable talent this year, with both Swiatek and Keys set to continue their quests for glory, as well as Shelton and Sinner in the men’s division looking to make their mark.
