Madison Keys came back from a set down to shock Iga Swiatek in a tough match on Thursday and set up a match in the Australian Open final against two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka. The 19th seed qualified for the exciting semi-final in the final group tie-break against the world number two, 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (10/8), after Sabalenka defeated Paula Badosa in two straight sets. Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, did not drop serve since the first round, but was broken eight times by Keys, who saved a match point on her way to overcoming a massive battle.
It will be the American’s first final in Melbourne, and only her second Grand Slam, and she broke down in tears after crossing the finish line in two hours and 35 minutes.
This was the first time an Australian Open semi-final was decided by a 10-point third set tiebreaker.
“That match was at a very high level and she played very well,” Keys, 29, said.
“I felt like I was fighting for my life and then obviously I ran with the second and then the third was just a battle.
“To be able to stand here and qualify for the finals is absolutely amazing and I’m very excited to be here on Saturday,” he added.
Keys, runner-up to the US Open champion in 2017, admitted that she could not remember many details about the final set in which she saved a match point.
Keys smiled, saying, “In the third set, it was volatile. I feel like I lost consciousness at some point.”
“Just so I can stay in that position and keep fighting and then go to a 10-point tiebreaker to have a dramatic finish.”
Earlier, Sabalenka put aside her close friendship with Badosa to stay on track for the first time in 26 years.
The Belarusian, ranked number one in the world, defeated the eleventh seed at home, 6-4, 6-2, at Rod Laver Arena.
Keys expected a strong battle between two of the strongest ball strikers in the women’s match in Saturday’s final.
“Definitely a big hit. I think it’s going to happen,” Keyes said.
“There weren’t a lot of long points but obviously it’s going to be her third Australian Open and I’m excited to be playing here.”
Keys and Sabalenka have met five times before, with the powerful Belarusian winning four of them.
Their last confrontation was in Beijing last October in the round of 16, where Sabalenka won 6-4, 6-3.
“Very proud”
Sabalenka is closing in on a third consecutive Melbourne title, something that has not happened this century.
The last person to achieve this feat was Martina Hingis in 1999 and only four other women have completed the triple peat – Margaret Court, Yvonne Goolagong Cowley, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles.
The court was on the field watching.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” said Sabalenka, who is also the US Open champion. “I’m very proud of myself. I’m proud of my team because we’re able to put ourselves in a position like this.”
“It’s a privilege. If I can put my name in history, it would mean a lot. It would mean the world to me.”
Last year, Sabalenka described Spanish player Badosa as a “soul friend” and said she was “very happy” that they met each other on such a big stage.
“I hope she stays my friend,” she said after her semi-final defeat. “I’m sure she’ll hate me in the next hour, day or two, but I’m okay with that. I can deal with that.”
Despite the loss, Badosa’s arrival in the semi-finals crowned a remarkable comeback for the Spaniard after a severe back injury made her consider retiring from tennis a year ago.
Her exploits in Melbourne will return her to the top 10 for the first time since October 2022. Keys will also return to the top 10.
Badosa said Sabalenka was in an unstoppable state.
“Sometimes, I don’t know, I just walk around the court because it feels like she’s playing PlayStation,” she said.
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