Madison Keys produced an extraordinary comeback to defeat World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in a nail-biting semifinal at the Australian Open, saving match point and prevailing 5-7, 6-1, 7-6[8] to book her place in her second career Grand Slam final.
In a match packed with drama, Madison Keys showcased her resilience and flair to upset Iga Swiatek, the tournament’s second seed and one of the sport’s dominant forces. Keys, seeded No. 19, defied the odds, overturning a history of four straight-set losses to the Polish star to secure a career-defining victory in 2 hours and 35 minutes.
Swiatek looked poised for victory when she served for the match at 6-5 in the final set, holding a match point. However, a netted backhand proved costly, giving Keys the opportunity to force a super-tiebreak. Even then, the American trailed 7-5 before delivering clutch serves and unwavering composure to win the final three points and convert her first match point.
The victory extends Keys’ winning streak to 11 matches, her longest ever, following her title run in Adelaide earlier this month. Reflecting on her breakthrough moment, Keys will now face the ultimate test in the final against top seed and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, who holds a commanding 4-1 lead in their head-to-head, including all four hard-court battles.
For Swiatek, this marks a bitter end to another Australian Open campaign, her second semifinal exit in three years. Meanwhile, Keys will aim to claim her maiden Grand Slam title, six years after her first final at the 2017 US Open.
