MELBOURNE, Australia — After a thrilling Australian Open semifinal match, Madison Keys stunned the tennis world by defeating the No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek with a score of 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (10-8). The 29-year-old American showcased incredible resilience, saving a match point during the intense contest, which concluded late Thursday night. Overcome with emotion after securing her spot in the finals, Keys crouched on the court and touched her white hat, taking a moment to absorb the significance of her victory.

Reflecting on her win, Keys expressed disbelief at what transpired, labeling it an “extra dramatic finish.” This win marks her second chance at a Grand Slam title since she finished as the runner-up at the US Open in 2017. “I’m still trying to catch up to everything that’s happening,” said Keys, now positioned to face No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka, who is aiming for her third consecutive Australian Open title on Saturday. “I felt like I was just fighting to stay in it… It was so up and down and so many big points.”

During the match, Keys confirmed with officials that Swiatek had been just one point away from clinching victory while serving at 6-5, 40-30. However, Swiatek faltered, hitting a backhand into the net, and later double-faulted, allowing Keys to push the match into a tense tiebreaker. Keys recounted, “I felt like I blacked out there at some point,” acknowledging the overwhelming pressure of the pivotal moments.

After this match, Keys actually won more games than Swiatek had dropped in all her previous matches in the tournament combined. “It was a matter of one or two balls,” Swiatek admitted, noting Keys’ commendable bravery throughout the match.

Earlier on the same day, Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the finals by defeating her friend Paula Badosa with a score of 6-4, 6-2. The 26-year-old from Belarus is looking to make history by becoming the first woman to win three consecutive titles at the Australian Open since 1999. “If she plays like this,” remarked Badosa, “we can already give her the trophy,” though Keys will look to disrupt that narrative.

Sabalenka’s impressive track record includes winning her first major title at the Australian Open in 2023, followed by triumphs in subsequent tournaments, including the U.S. Open last September. Historically, the only woman to reach three finals in a row at the Australian Open was Serena Williams, achieving this feat from 2015 to 2017, while Martina Hingis was the last to claim three consecutive championships from 1997 to 1999.

“I have goosebumps. I’m so proud of myself,” Sabalenka said following her victory, bringing her head-to-head record against Keys to 4-1, which includes a win in the previous year’s U.S. Open semifinals.

Despite Swiatek’s dominance serving throughout the tournament—having not lost a single service game until this match—she was broken three times by Keys in the first set alone and eight times overall. Swiatek managed to take the first set but struggled to maintain her form in the second, falling behind 5-0 before finally winning a game.

Keys brought her best-game to the court, utilizing new equipment this season based on her coach and husband Bjorn Fratangelo’s suggestion. This change aimed at enhancing her power while alleviating shoulder strain has certainly yielded positive results. Keys’ winning streak now stands at 11 matches, bolstered by her recent title win at a tune-up event in Adelaide.

As the match drew to a close, Keys noted, “At the end, I feel like we were both kind of battling some nerves… It just became who can get that final point and who can be a little bit better than the other one. And I’m happy it was me.”

Regarding Sabalenka’s match against Badosa, the latter initially struggled but soon adjusted her game after the arena’s roof was closed due to light rain. “She started to be very, very aggressive,” Badosa remarked, explaining how Sabalenka quickly regained control. The two players maintained a respectful distance during the match but shared a warm hug afterward, highlighting their friendship.

In a lighthearted moment, Sabalenka joked about treating Badosa to a shopping spree to make amends for their competitive nature on the court. Badosa responded playfully, suggesting, “It’s going to be something really expensive.”