Keys outlasts Swiatek to reach Australian Open women’s final

Madison Keys defeated Iga Swiatek in an instant classic at the 2025 Australian Open on Thursday night, prevailing 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(8) over the world No.2 in Melbourne.

The Pole had been in scintillating form heading into the semi-finals, losing just 14 games over her first five matches at Melbourne Park.

However, Keys played fearless tennis for two hours and 35 minutes, consistently going after her shots under pressure and even defending a match point late in the third set to make her second Grand Slam final.

The serve was a defining factor, with Keys landing seven aces while Swiatek failed to record any.

The No.19 seed’s first-serve win percentage was also higher (64% to 53%), while she struck 46 winners to her opponent’s 22, making just one more unforced error.

“I think I’m still trying to come down and figure out where I am,” Keys said after pulling off the biggest win of her career.

“Really proud of myself for being able to stay in that.

“I think it was really just, I kind of kept telling myself, ‘Just try to get the next point’.

“Especially at the end of the match, I really was just so focused on what I wanted to try to do.

“I think it helped me because I was just able to kind of solely focus on that.

“Really I just kept saying, like, ‘Just try to get this next point, only focus on this point. Win it or lose it, move on to the next point’.

“Just kept trying to stay as close as I could.”

Swiatek — who had been a +100 favourite with top online bookmakers to win the Australian Open — was at peace with the way the match unfolded.

“I think it was kind of 50/50 because I think maybe I would have won it sometimes if I could win easy points with my serve as she did kind of,” she said.

“I guess at the end Madison, like, was kind of brave with her decisions, and she pushed me when she needed to.

“I did everything I could. I wouldn’t say, like, I flopped or, I don’t know, I should have won it.”

Keys to face Sabalenka in Australian Open final

Keys will now face two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open women’s final on Saturday.

Tennis bookmakers have her as a heavy underdog at +275 to win her maiden Grand Slam title.

Top seed Sabalenka, who beat Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2 earlier on Thursday, is paying -357.14 at Bovada to beat Keys and win her third-straight Australian Open.

With Keys finding success in Melbourne through her aggressive tennis, the American praised Sabalenka for a similar approach ahead of their meeting.

“I think what’s really impressive is her mentality,” she said.

“Her ability to kind of always go for it, no matter what the score is, is really impressive.

“She plays such fearless tennis. She has the ability to play so well that way. I think it’s very unique.

“I think a lot of people, no matter what, even if it was a tight point, you kind of expect them to play a little bit more conservative or back down a little bit, and you know she’s not going to do that.

“Not only is that impressive on her side, but I think it puts a little bit more pressure on her opponents where you know you’re always going to have to try to win the point because she’s never going to just play passive and give you an easy point.”

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