By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Thursday, January 23, 2025
Photograph credit score: Hannah Peters/Getty
Iga Swiatek had all of the solutions rampaging by way of this Australian Open subject dropping serve simply twice en path to the semifinals.
Tonight, a daring Madison Keys confounded Swiatek at crunch time saving match level to spark an exciting 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(8) comeback win and attain the Australian Open semifinals.
Blissful Warrior: Keys Shocks Swiatek for First AO Last
It is the second time in three years Swiatek’s Australian Open goals have been punctured by a strong American.
Feisty Danielle Collins crushed Swiatek 6-4, 6-1 within the 2022 AO semifinals shelling out one of many worst thrashings of the previous world No. 1’s superb Grand Slam profession.
In that semifinal, Collins beat Swiatek up together with her backhand.
Tonight, Keys imposed her forehand with some gorgeous strikes down the road at crunch time.
Stumbling in previous main moments as a result of she pulled the set off prematurely, tonight Keys wielded energy with endurance. Typically, Keys waited for the best ball then let it rip with that flame-thrower forehand.
At instances, Keys unleashed wrecking ball returns proper again at Swiatek, even knocking her again to her knees to repel the burden of the ball into her hip.
Afterward, Swiatek cited two key strokes to the 29-year-old American’s comeback win:
1. Keys hit larger and performed braver on important factors.
2. Keys received extra free factors on serve.
Although Swiatek hit her second serve more durable and received extra second-serve factors, Keys cracked seven aces in opposition to 4 double faults. In distinction, Swiatek had no aces and 7 double faults.
The actual fact this was an evening match and the Rod Laver Enviornment retractable roof was closed in the course of the match created higher serving situations for Keys, who adopted a step-up serve movement this season and is getting extra juice on the primary serve switching to a lighter Yonex stick from her heavier Blade racquet.
Indoor situations additionally sapped a number of the sting and top from Swiatek’s topspin forehand. Keys, who can nonetheless hit one of many greatest forehands within the sport when her ft are set, continously rushed Swiatek’s forehand wing, generally cornered her on that facet earlier than unleashing the forehand down the road.
“I feel possibly I might have received it generally if I might win straightforward factors with my function she did sort of,” Swiatek stated. “She might at all times come again from being in bother with the serve, however I did not function effectively. So possibly that will make a distinction.
“It was tight from the start. The second set for positive, like, it was one thing that I simply needed to overlook about and get again to my sport…
“Nonetheless, I feel I performed good, however she performed higher. I did all the things I might. I would not say, like, I flopped or, I do not know, I ought to have received it.”
All through her profession, Keys was typically forged as an explosive but erratic expertise, who lacked the killer intuition and sprayed pictures all over on pivotal factors.
Taking part in with a brand new Yonex racquet, new polyester strings, a brand new step-up serve and renewed confidence, Keys has posted a WTA-best 13-1 document, together with an ideal 7-0 mark in three setters.
Tonight, Keys performed with extra poise.
When Swiatek held match level at 6-5, a fearless Keys rocketed a forehand return proper again at her to put it aside.
In the end, Swiatek blinked and double faulted. Her sixth double faulted gifted the sport, propelling this drama right into a 10-point match tiebreaker.
Down 7-8 within the breaker, Keys slashed an ace then ripped forehands to interrupt down Swiatek’s forehand and shut her greatest win.
“So what made the distinction? Like, this match was lengthy, so it had many alternative adjustments of momentum and many alternative moments that I might describe,” Swiatek stated. “I assume on the finish Madison, like, was sort of courageous together with her choices, and he or she pushed me when she wanted to.
“Yeah, I might say I wasn’t feeling as free as on earlier matches to additionally push within the necessary moments.”
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