Madison Keys (USA) won in a dramatic and exciting way with a comeback with 2-1 (5:7, 6:1, 7:6(8)) against Iga Swiatek (Poland) and qualified for the second time in her career in the final of the “Grand Slam” and for the first time at the Australian Open.
The American, who is ranked 19th in the main scheme, will compete for the trophy with the favorite Aryna Sabalenka. The champion from the last two years eliminated Paula Badosa in the early semi-final today.
Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek set up perhaps the most exciting, contested and potentially smart women’s match at this year’s Australian Open. The Pole was expected to be the favorite before this clash, but the American once again confirmed her remarkable start in 2025.
Iga Swiatek won the first set, mainly thanks to the fact that he took advantage of his opponent’s mistakes. Madison Keys, however, started to play relaxed and carefree in the second half, where the whole tension was as if on top of the world’s number two. That’s how it was possible for even Iga Swiatek to “eat a bagel”, and the match logically entered the third set.
There, after about 50 minutes of play, the score was 5:5, after Iga Swiatek successfully won the pass for the rest of the tournament. She eventually broke through and had the opportunity to serve for the win, as she even reached the match ball. To her regret, however, the game did not develop in her favor and the battle was transferred to a championship tiebreak.
Iga Swiatek took the lead with 4-3 mini-breaks and 7-5 in the “long game”, but he did not take advantage of his advantage. In the tiebreak, Madison Keys was much more stable than the second and won five of the next six games to earn her first final in Melbourne.
In addition to the prestige and the chance to fight for the “Grand Slam” title, Madison Keys also secured a top 10 finish in the world rankings. She will be at least in eighth position from next week, and if she wins the title, she will be seventh. Iga Swiatek added 650 points to his active ranking, but remains number 2 in the world for sure, as the difference against Aryna Sabalenka depends on the outcome of the final.
