MELBOURNE, Australia — In a dazzling display, No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek cruised into the semifinals of the Australian Open with an impressive 6-1, 6-2 victory over No. 8 seed Emma Navarro on Wednesday.
So far in the tournament, Swiatek has been unstoppable, not dropping a single set while conceding only 14 games. The 23-year-old Polish sensation is on a quest for her inaugural title at Melbourne Park and her sixth Grand Slam championship overall. Remarkably, the last woman to reach the Australian Open semifinals with fewer than 15 games lost was the legendary Maria Sharapova in 2013.
“I’m incredibly pleased with how the tournament has unfolded so far,” Swiatek remarked, as she prepares to face off against No. 19 Madison Keys of the U.S. on Thursday night for a chance to reach the final. “Making it to the semifinals is fantastic. I’m going to strive for more.”
Amid her dominance, Swiatek experienced what seemed to be a controversial missed double-bounce during a point she won in the second set; however, Navarro opted not to request a video review. Regardless, Swiatek’s mastery of the match was unmistakable, even as she humbly acknowledged the challenge.
“Honestly, I felt it was tougher than the score indicates,” Swiatek noted. “Emma is definitely a fighter… I focused on maintaining my intensity throughout.”
In the other women’s semifinal, top seed Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning two-time champion, will meet her good friend, No. 11 Paula Badosa.
Madison Keys, who previously reached the finals at the 2017 U.S. Open, triumphed over Elina Svitolina with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, marking her third semifinal appearance in Australia.
“Madison is an extraordinary and seasoned competitor, so anything can happen,” said Swiatek, holding a 4-1 edge in their head-to-head encounters. “I’ll concentrate solely on my performance.”
Utilizing a new racket this season, Keys boasts an impressive 10-match winning streak, including a title victory at an Adelaide hard-court event. Her path to the semifinals in Melbourne includes impressive wins over two former Australian Open finalists, Danielle Collins and Elina Rybakina.
Keys has faced defeats in previous Australian Open semifinals against future champions Serena Williams in 2015 and Ash Barty in 2022.
“I feel I’m playing a bit smarter these days… perhaps a touch less fearless,” remarked Keys on her evolution as a player.
Svitolina, a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist, initially controlled the match, but Keys adapted her strategy, looking to seize more opportunities at the net. She clinched 23 out of 26 points when advancing forward and delivered a total of 49 winners—23 from her powerful forehand.
Despite struggling at times during her return games, Keys finally seized her seventh break chance, leading 4-2 in the second set.
“Iga is a tough competitor to beat,” said Keys, assessing her upcoming challenge. “Her unique spin on both sides, coupled with her exceptional serving and returning capabilities, makes her formidable. Plus, her movement is outstanding, giving her the time to reset even if opponents slightly miss their shots.”