Madison Keys saved a match point on her way to seeing off Iga Swiatek and clinching a place in the Australian Open final against Aryna Sabalenka.
The American looked out of sorts early on but found her range in a match that got better before peaking in an epic final-set tie-break.
Keys’ power-hitting eventually saw her prevail 5-7 6-1 7-6 (10-8).
🔓 She’s done it! @Madison_Keys wins four of the final five points of the super tiebreak to book her place in Saturday’s final!@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/k7gVLVtibZ
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 23, 2025
Swiatek will rue one that got away. She held a match point at 6-5 in the deciding set and led throughout the super tie-break before Keys upped her game with some big winners at clutch moments.
It is the first time Keys has made it through to a championship game since the US Open final in 2017.
She said: “I’m still trying to catch up to everything that is happening, I’m in the finals. That match was such high level and she played so well and I just felt like I was fighting to stay in it.
“I then ran with the second [set] and the third was just a battle and to be able to be standing here and be in the finals is absolutely amazing and I’m so excited that I get to be here on Saturday.
“In the third set it was so up and down and there were so many big points and break point chances that neither one of us got. I feel I blacked out at one point and I was just there running around so just to be able to stay in it and stay fighting, and then a 10-point tie-breaker for an extra dramatic finish.”
Sabalenka stands in Keys’ way
Keys’ fearless approach will be tested again on Saturday by an opponent looking to claim the trophy for a third year in succession.
Sabalenka again looked good in beating close friend Paula Badosa 6-4 6-2.
Friends again? Friends again 🥰 pic.twitter.com/yQaoKpJ28a
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 23, 2025
The Belarusian will start as overwhelming favorite as she attempts to become the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to win three straight Melbourne crowns.
“I have goosebumps. I am so proud of myself and my team that we were able to put ourselves in such a situation,” Sabalenka said.
“If I put my name in history it will mean the world for me. I couldn’t even dream of it.”
