MELBOURNE, Australia — Madison Keys celebrated a stunning victory over Iga Swiatek in the Australian Open semifinals, marking a hard-fought match that ended with a score of 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (10-8). The 29-year-old American saved a match point during the tense encounter and was visibly overwhelmed with emotion after the match’s conclusion. Crouching on the court, she placed a hand on her white cap, struggling to comprehend the triumph over the five-time Grand Slam titleholder Swiatek, who had established a dominant presence throughout the tournament.
“I’m still trying to catch up to everything that’s happening,” reflected Keys, seeded 19th. She is set to face No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion, in the finals on Saturday. “It felt like I was just fighting to stay in it… It was so up and down with so many crucial points.” Keys later sought reassurance about Swiatek’s close call at a pivotal moment in the match, realizing that the Polish player was indeed one point away from victory while serving at 6-5, 40-30. A missed backhand and a double fault turned the tide, allowing Keys to seize control and push the match into a tiebreak.
“I think I blacked out at some point,” Keys stated, reflecting on the intense final moments of the match. Despite the challenges, she managed to secure more games in this semifinal than Swiatek had lost in all her previous matches in the tournament combined. “It came down to one or two crucial shots,” acknowledged Swiatek, who also faced loss in the semifinals of the Australian Open two years prior. “Madison played bravely.”
Earlier on the same day, Sabalenka defeated her close friend Paula Badosa with a score of 6-4, 6-2. The 26-year-old Belarusian now has the chance to become the first woman since 1999 to claim three consecutive titles. “If she plays like this,” Badosa remarked, “we can already give her the trophy.” However, Keys may have other plans when they meet in the final.
Sabalenka has achieved significant success in recent years, clinching her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2023 and securing two more victories since. The last time a woman reached three consecutive finals at the Australian Open was Serena Williams between 2015 and 2017, while Martina Hingis was the last to win three titles consecutively from 1997 to 1999.
“I have goosebumps. I’m so proud of myself,” said Sabalenka, who holds a 4-1 head-to-head advantage over Keys, including a win in their previous semifinal meeting at the U.S. Open in 2023. Notably, Swiatek had not lost a single service game until her encounter with Keys, yet she faced multiple breaks in the first set and ultimately sustained eight breaks throughout the match.
From the first serve, it was evident that Swiatek would not have her typical performance; she was broken during her first two serves of the match. Although Swiatek managed to take the first set, Keys responded emphatically, racing out to a 5-0 lead in the second set before Swiatek won a game. This match showcased Keys’ big-hitting prowess at its finest. Approaching her 30th birthday next month, Keys switched to a new racket this season on the suggestions of her husband and coach Bjorn Fratangelo, aiming to enhance her power while alleviating shoulder strain.
The change has proven beneficial, as Keys is currently on an 11-match winning streak, which includes a title win at a recent preparatory event in Adelaide. The semifinal match fluctuated in tension, with both players battling nerves, ultimately culminating in a contest of who could secure the decisive points.
“I felt like we were both battling some nerves at the end. It just became about who could get that last point,” Keys said. “I’m glad it was me.” In the match preceding her, Sabalenka quickly adapted after trailing 2-0 with a 40-love disadvantage, particularly after the closed roof of Rod Laver Arena provided a more stable playing environment. She dominated Badosa, who had reached her first major semifinal after knocking out No. 3 Coco Gauff.
“Once she started being aggressive, everything worked out for her,” noted Badosa, who previously battled injuries that nearly made her consider retirement. For much of the evening, the two competitors intentionally avoided eye contact, but once the match concluded, they shared an extended hug.
During her on-court interview, Sabalenka humorously suggested she would take Badosa on a shopping spree to make amends, offering to pay for anything her friend desired. Badosa responded playfully, “It’s going to be something really expensive.”
