Australian Open 2025: Keys stuns Swiatek in a thriller, faces Sabalenka in final

Madison Keys saved a match point as she stunned World No. 2 Iga Swiatek 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(8) in a thriller at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Thursday to reach her second Grand Slam final.

Keys, who lost to fellow American Sloane Stephens in the US Open final in 2017, will have another shot at clinching her maiden Major when she takes on two-time defending champion and World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s summit clash.

Sabalenka defeated 11th-seeded Spaniard Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2 in the first semifinal.

“I’m still trying to catch up to everything that’s happening. I’m in the finals. Woo-hoo,” 19th-seeded Keys said after the biggest win of her career.

“That match was just such a high level … I felt like I was fighting to stay in it … To be able to be standing here in the finals is absolutely amazing and I’m glad that I can be here on Saturday.

“I think at the end we were both battling some nerves and really pushing each other. It was about who could get that final point and be a little better than the other and I’m happy it was me.”

Five-times Grand Slam champion Swiatek came into her semifinal clash having not lost a game on serve in her last four at Melbourne Park, but was under immediate pressure when Keys took the opener and looked to consolidate the break.

Roared on by an army of Polish fans in the Rod Laver Arena stands, Swiatek switched into battle mode and pulled it back and the pair swapped breaks again before the second seed took control of the opening set at 4-2.

After rain prompted the closure of the roof, Keys came out swinging to close the gap and shrugged off a shocking mistake on an overhead smash at the net before drawing level at 5-5 but was unable to stop Swiatek from reeling off the next two games.

Experienced Keys, competing in her third semifinal at the Australian Open, continued to heap the pressure on with heavy ball-striking and impeccable serving to race ahead 5-0 in the next set before Swiatek avoided the embarrassment of a bagel.

Keys drew level at one set apiece with her seventh break in the match and made a solid start to the deciding set, hitting a backhand rocket to hold for 4-3 before saving four break points to go 5-4 up.

Swiatek responded and squandered a match point at 6-5 before taking the lead in the tiebreak. Keys battled back and sealed victory when the Pole sent a forehand long and the American celebrated by bowing her head and soaking up the cheers.