MELBOURNE, Australia — Iga Swiatek is exhibiting a level of performance at the Australian Open that hasn’t been seen since Maria Sharapova’s reign in 2013.
Swiatek’s impressive run continued with a decisive victory over No. 8 seed Emma Navarro, winning 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
As the No. 2 seed in the tournament, Swiatek remains unbeaten and has yet to lose a set, having only given up a mere 14 games throughout the entire competition. She aims to secure her first championship at Melbourne Park and her sixth Grand Slam title overall. Sharapova is the last female player to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open with fewer than 15 games lost.
“She plays with absolute conviction and intensity,” said Navarro, reflecting on her match against Swiatek. “Her unique style of movement is challenging; it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed and think I need to match her speed.”
Swiatek’s next challenge will be against Madison Keys of the United States, seeded No. 19, as they vie for a spot in the final. The other semifinal features No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time reigning champion, taking on No. 11 Paula Badosa, a close friend.
Keys has reached her third semifinal in Australia, having gotten past Elina Svitolina with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Her best performance in a major tournament so far was making it to the finals at the 2017 U.S. Open.
“Iga is very tough to beat,” Keys noted. “Her game involves a lot of natural spin on both sides, she serves well, returns well, and has remarkable movement on the court. Her agility creates challenges; if you miss by the slightest margin, she’s right there to regain control.”
In men’s action, American player Ben Shelton also made it to the semifinals after a thrilling match, defeating unseeded Lorenzo Sonego from Italy with a score of 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (4). This marks Shelton’s first time reaching this stage in Melbourne following his semifinal finish at the 2023 U.S. Open. He will face either top seed Jannik Sinner, the defending champion, or No. 8 Alex de Minaur, who battled it out on Wednesday evening.
The other semifinal for the men features Novak Djokovic going head-to-head with Alexander Zverev.
Swiatek’s talent was on full display during her match against Navarro, capitalizing on a controversial no-call regarding a double bounce that could have altered the momentum of the match. Navarro didn’t immediately stop to request a video review, which meant the play couldn’t be contested.
Despite her commanding performance, Swiatek remained humble, explaining, “It was much tougher than the score indicates. Emma is a fighter, and I focused on maintaining my intensity throughout the match.”
Historically, Swiatek has bested Keys in four of their five previous encounters. “Madison is an experienced competitor, so I know it’s going to be a tough matchup. I’ll concentrate on my game,” she added.
Keys is currently on a 10-match winning streak, having recently changed her racket, and captured a title in a hard-court tournament in Adelaide prior to the Australian Open. Her journey to the semifinals has included wins over two former Australian Open finalists: Danielle Collins and Elina Rybakina.
Previously, Keys faced disappointments in the semifinals of the Australian Open against eventual champions Serena Williams in 2015 and Ash Barty in 2022.
“I believe I am playing smarter now, perhaps less fearlessly than before,” Keys expressed, reflecting on her growth.
In her match against Svitolina, Keys was behind in the first set but adapted her strategy, opting to approach the net more frequently and found success there, winning 23 out of 26 points when she did so. She amassed 49 winners, notably 23 from her dominant forehand.
Keys faced some initial challenges on her returns but finally broke through after seven attempts, taking a lead of 4-2 in the second set.
“I’m learning to appreciate my career, whether or not I win a Grand Slam. That recognition has allowed me to enjoy the game more. There were times I felt pressured to achieve a win, and that pressure took away the joy of playing,” she shared.
“While winning a Grand Slam remains the goal, I want to embrace the opportunity to compete and potentially succeed,” Keys concluded.