By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Thursday, January 23, 2025
Picture credit score: Hannah Peters/Getty
Iga Swiatek had all of the solutions rampaging via this Australian Open area 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 exhilarating 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(8) comeback win and attain the Australian Open semifinals.
Blissful Warrior: Keys Shocks Swiatek for First AO Remaining
It is the second time in three years Swiatek’s Australian Open goals have been punctured by a robust American.
Feisty Danielle Collins crushed Swiatek 6-4, 6-1 within the 2022 AO semifinals allotting one of many worst thrashings of the previous world No. 1’s superb Grand Slam profession.
In that semifinal, Collins beat Swiatek up along with her backhand.
Tonight, Keys imposed her forehand with some beautiful 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 suitable 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 greater and performed braver on essential factors.
2. Keys received extra free factors on serve.
Although Swiatek hit her second serve tougher and received extra second-serve factors, Keys cracked seven aces towards 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 Area retractable roof was closed through the match created higher serving circumstances 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 circumstances additionally sapped among the sting and peak from Swiatek’s topspin forehand. Keys, who can nonetheless hit one of many greatest forehands within the sport when her toes are set, continously rushed Swiatek’s forehand wing, generally cornered her on that facet earlier than unleashing the forehand down the road.
“I feel perhaps I’d have received it generally if I might win simple factors with my function she did form of,” Swiatek stated. “She might at all times come again from being in bother with the serve, however I did not function effectively. So perhaps that might make a distinction.
“It was tight from the start. The second set for certain, like, it was one thing that I simply wished 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 photographs in every single place on pivotal factors.
Enjoying 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 report, 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 reserve it.
Finally, 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 form of courageous along with her selections, and she or he pushed me when she wanted to.
“Yeah, I’d say I wasn’t feeling as free as on earlier matches to additionally push within the essential moments.”
