Madison Keys saved a match point and came back from a set down to beat Iga Swiatek 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (10-8) in the Australian Open semi-finals on Thursday, Afrosport reports.
The 29-year-old American was on the brink of defeat when Swiatek served for the match at 6-5 in the third set and was a point away from reaching her first final in Melbourne.
Swiatek however double-faulted to send the match into a tie break which Keys won 10-8 and is now thrilled to be in her second Grand Slam final after finishing runner-up at the 2017 US Open.
“Yeah. I’m still trying to catch up to everything that’s happening. Yeah, I’m in the finals. Yeah. I mean, that match was. It was just such high level, and she played so well, and I felt like I was just fighting to stay in it,” Keys said.
“And then obviously really kind of ran with the second (set), and then the third was just a battle. And, to be able to be standing here and be in the finals is absolutely amazing. And I’m so excited that I get to be here on Saturday.”
Madison Keys will now get to face Aryna Sabalenka, who got the better of Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2 in the earlier women’s singles semi-final, and Keys is ready for the challenge.
“Definitely some big hitting. I think is going to happen. Not a whole lot of long points, but, she’s obviously going for her third Aussie Open, and I’m excited to get to play her,” she added.
“I’m really excited for the challenge. And I don’t know, Saturday’s very far away in my brain right now.”
🔓 She’s done it! @Madison_Keys wins four of the final five points of the super tiebreak to book her place in Saturday’s final!@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/k7gVLVtibZ
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 23, 2025
Sabalenka will be gunning to win her third consecutive Australian Open title and fourth Grand Slam crown overall.
