In a thrilling display of resilience and power, Madison Keys pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (10-8) in the Australian Open semifinals on Thursday night. The 29-year-old American Keys saved a match point in the process, earning her spot in the final and marking her first Grand Slam final appearance since finishing as the U.S. Open runner-up in 2017.
Keys, seeded 19th, overcame a slow start and found her rhythm as the match progressed. “I’m still trying to catch up to everything that’s happening,” she admitted. “It was so up and down and so many big points.” Facing Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion who had dominated Melbourne Park with ease this year, Keys showcased her mental toughness and supreme ball-striking ability.
The match saw Swiatek take the first set after breaking Keys at 5-6, but Keys roared back in the second set, overpowering the Polish star with aggressive groundstrokes and precise serves. Swiatek, who had not dropped a service game since the first round, was broken three times in the first set alone and eight times in total. Keys dominated the second set 6-1, leaving Swiatek struggling to regain her composure.
The third set was a tense battle, with both players displaying nerves under the pressure. Swiatek seemed poised to close the match when she held a match point at 6-5. However, Keys forced an error with a powerful return, breaking Swiatek’s serve and sending the contest into a deciding tiebreaker.
In the tiebreak, Keys maintained her fearless aggression, delivering clutch shots to seal the victory. “At the end, I feel like we were both battling nerves. It just came down to who could hold on longer,” Keys said.
Keys will face top seed and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final. Sabalenka, who defeated Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2 in her semifinal, aims to become the first woman since 1999 to complete a threepeat at the Australian Open.
Keys enters the final on an 11-match winning streak, including a title in Adelaide earlier this year. While Sabalenka’s form is formidable, Keys’ power and confidence will make for an electrifying showdown in the quest for the Australian Open crown.
