Imperious Iga Swiatek marches on to arrange Madison Keys semi-final at Australian Open | Australian Open 2025

Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys will battle for a spot within the Australian Open last after the Polish No 2 seed dismantled the eighth seed Emma Navarro 6-1, 6-2 to proceed her dominant run in Melbourne. Earlier on Wednesday, Keys maintained her personal wonderful type in the beginning of the season with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over twenty seventh seed Elina Svitolina.

In her first match alongside her new coach, Wim Fissette, Swiatek has now matched her greatest end result on the Australian Open, which she achieved in 2022. She is but to drop a set this yr in Melbourne and she or he has misplaced simply 14 video games general, half of these video games coming in her 6-3, 6-4 first spherical win over Katerina Siniakova. Navarro, in her third consecutive grand slam quarter-final, represented a step up in high quality for Swiatek, who had not but confronted a prime 40 opponent.

Nonetheless, Swiatek set the tone for an additional dominant win in her opening return recreation, demolishing the Navarro second serve en path to a fast, early break. Whereas Navarro defended nicely, elongated rallies and compelled her opponent to work laborious for every level, Swiatek dictated your complete match from on prime of the baseline together with her far larger weight of shot, pairing her aggression with persistence and composure for a snug win.

The match included a controversial name at 2-2 within the second set as Swiatek chased down a drop shot from Navarro earlier than ending the purpose with a backhand winner. Subsequent replays, nevertheless, confirmed the ball had bounced twice earlier than Swiatek reached Navarro’s drop shot. Video assessment expertise is obtainable on the Australian Open however as a result of Navarro continued the purpose, she was not allowed to return and alter it.

Keys, in the meantime, has began the yr acting at an distinctive degree and she or he is now on a 10-match profitable streak after claiming the Adelaide Open title 11 days in the past. Her run has included six top-20 wins and two different top-30 wins.

Keys’ victory additionally marks her seventh grand slam semi-final and her third in Melbourne after making her first profession grand slam semi-final on the 2015 Australian Open earlier than returning to the stage in 2022. Her greatest grand slam end result got here in 2017 when she reached the US Open last, dropping to her shut good friend Sloane Stephens.

“I believe I play just a little bit smarter, for certain. In all probability just a little bit much less fearless although,” stated Keys of her growth over the previous decade. “To be right here, 10 years later within the semi-finals once more, I’m actually happy with myself and actually excited to play one other semi-final in Melbourne.”

Svitolina had began the match in good type, placing Keys, the nineteenth seed, underneath fixed stress by absorbing her tempo, sustaining wonderful depth and searching for alternatives to assault. However Keys is likely one of the greatest ball-strikers within the historical past of the game and she or he is so troublesome to cease when in full circulation. After discovering rhythm on her serve, Keys regularly started to dominate the baseline exchanges with managed, damaging ballstriking off each wings. She completed an imperious efficiency with 49 winners.

“I felt like I simply needed to begin taking part in just a little bit extra aggressive and attempt to get to the web just a little bit faster,” stated Keys. “She was controlling a whole lot of the factors and making me run. I felt like I wanted to try to get on the benefit just a little bit faster. Fortunately I used to be ready to try this.”