Swiatek continues her ruthless run with a straight-sets win over Navarro as Keys phases comeback to beat Svitolina in three units.
A rampaging Iga Swiatek has stormed into her second Australian Open semifinal with a 6-1 6-2 centre-court demolition of eighth seed Emma Navarro and the world quantity two will face a stern check in opposition to Madison Keys, who got here again from a set all the way down to beat Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The final two ladies’s singles quarterfinals at Melbourne Park performed out in contrasting vogue as Poland’s Swiatek underlined her title credentials as soon as once more on the 12 months’s first Grand Slam, whereas big-hitting American Keys stormed again to make her first Australian Open semifinal after 10 years.
The primary quarterfinal handed with a notice of controversy with Swiatek scooping up a drop shot that appeared perilously near a double-bounce within the fifth sport of the second set, which proved a hammer blow for Navarro.
A throbbing ball of power from the primary level to the final, Swiatek stated her win at a sun-drenched Rod Laver Enviornment was “a lot more durable” than the rating confirmed.
The Pole has a 4-1 document in opposition to her subsequent opponent Keys however anticipated a troublesome check in opposition to the American.
“Madison is a good participant and actually skilled, so that you by no means know. The match that I misplaced, she type of killed me, so I feel it may be tough,” she added.
After beating Ukrainian Svitolina, Keys stated she appeared ahead to cheering on Navarro as her compatriot took on the five-time Grand Slam champion.
However she was left to ponder the size of her job as she appears to be like to safe her first Grand Slam last for the reason that 2017 US Open.
The free-swinging Swiatek has swiftly risen to the problem, having conceded solely 14 video games in her 5 matches, and poses an enormous menace to holder Aryna Sabalenka’s try at a 3rd profitable Australian Open title.
Earlier, Keys blasted into the final 4 with attribute aggression to notch up her tenth win in succession.
“To be right here 10 years later within the semifinals once more, I’m actually happy with myself and actually excited,” stated Keys, who reached the final 4 in 2015 and 2022.
“I type of simply needed to begin taking part in a bit of bit extra aggressive and attempt to get to the online a bit faster.
“I feel I performed a bit of bit smarter for certain. Most likely a bit of bit much less fearless.”
The 29-year-old from Rock Island, Illinois had misplaced the final two of her three Grand Slam match-ups with Svitolina, most lately within the fourth spherical of the 2019 US Open.
However she fought again to take one other stride in direction of her second Grand Slam last.
“I’m attending to the purpose the place I’m beginning to respect my profession for what it has been,” Keys stated after the match.
“I’ve completed a very good job and I’ve actually left the whole lot on the market,” added Keys, who has solely made one earlier Grand Slam last, on the 2017 US Open, the place she misplaced to Sloane Stephens.
The American nineteenth seed will likely be 30 subsequent month however leads the WTA Tour with 12 wins this season and is on a 10-match unbeaten streak after lifting the Adelaide title.
Nonetheless, the American is aware of she is in for a battle in opposition to Swiatek.
“I feel Iga is hard to beat as a result of she has quite a lot of spin type of naturally on either side. She’s a very good server. She’s a very good returner. She strikes extremely effectively,” stated Keys.
“So I feel it’s actually onerous to ever actually get forward in a degree.”
After which there have been 4…#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/hLi14mLcOv
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2025
