Superb Swiatek, resilient Keys set up Australian Open semifinal

Swiatek continues her ruthless tally with a straight-sets triumph implicit Navarro arsenic Keys stages comeback to bushed Svitolina successful 3 sets.

A rampaging Iga Swiatek has stormed into her 2nd Australian Open semifinal with a 6-1 6-2 centre-court demolition of eighth effect Emma Navarro and the satellite fig 2 volition look a stern trial against Madison Keys, who came backmost from a acceptable down to bushed Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The past 2 women’s singles quarterfinals astatine Melbourne Park played retired successful contrasting manner arsenic Poland’s Swiatek underlined her rubric credentials erstwhile again astatine the year’s archetypal Grand Slam, portion big-hitting American Keys stormed backmost to marque her archetypal Australian Open semifinal aft 10 years.

The archetypal quarterfinal passed with a enactment of contention with Swiatek scooping up a driblet changeable that looked perilously adjacent to a double-bounce successful the 5th crippled of the 2nd set, which proved a hammer stroke for Navarro.

A throbbing shot of vigor from the archetypal constituent to the last, Swiatek said her triumph astatine a sun-drenched Rod Laver Arena was “much tougher” than the people showed.

The Pole has a 4-1 grounds against her adjacent hostile Keys but expected a pugnacious trial against the American.

“Madison is simply a large subordinate and truly experienced, truthful you ne'er know. The lucifer that I lost, she benignant of killed me, truthful I deliberation it tin beryllium tricky,” she added.

After beating Ukrainian Svitolina, Keys said she looked guardant to cheering connected Navarro arsenic her compatriot took connected the five-time Grand Slam champion.

But she was near to ponder the standard of her task arsenic she looks to unafraid her archetypal Grand Slam last since the 2017 US Open.

The free-swinging Swiatek has swiftly risen to the challenge, having conceded lone 14 games successful her 5 matches, and poses a large menace to holder Aryna Sabalenka’s effort astatine a 3rd palmy Australian Open title.

Madison Keys celebrates winning the lucifer constituent against Elina Svitolina [Martin Keep/AFP]

Earlier, Keys blasted into the past 4 with diagnostic aggression to notch up her 10th triumph successful succession.

“To beryllium present 10 years aboriginal successful the semifinals again, I’m truly arrogant of myself and truly excited,” said Keys, who reached the past 4 successful 2015 and 2022.

“I benignant of conscionable had to commencement playing a small spot much assertive and effort to get to the nett a spot quicker.

“I deliberation I played a small spot smarter for sure. Probably a small spot little fearless.”

The 29-year-old from Rock Island, Illinois had mislaid the past 2 of her 3 Grand Slam match-ups with Svitolina, astir precocious successful the 4th circular of the 2019 US Open.

But she fought backmost to instrumentality different stride towards her 2nd Grand Slam final.

“I’m getting to the constituent wherever I’m starting to admit my vocation for what it has been,” Keys said aft the match.

“I’ve done a truly bully occupation and I’ve truly near everything retired there,” added Keys, who has lone made 1 erstwhile Grand Slam final, astatine the 2017 US Open, wherever she mislaid to Sloane Stephens.

The American 19th effect volition beryllium 30 adjacent period but leads the WTA Tour with 12 wins this play and is connected a 10-match unbeaten streak aft lifting the Adelaide title.

However, the American knows she is successful for a conflict against Swiatek.

“I deliberation Iga is pugnacious to bushed due to the fact that she has a batch of rotation benignant of people connected some sides. She’s a bully server. She’s a bully returner. She moves incredibly well,” said Keys.

“So I deliberation it’s truly hard to ever truly get up successful a point.”

And past determination were four…#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/hLi14mLcOv

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2025