Iga Swiatek loses to Madison Keys: 2025 Australian Open semi-final result as Keys hits back to reach first AO final

"I’m in the final! That match was at such a high level, and she (Swiatek) played so well.

"I felt like I was just fighting to stay in it. I really ran with the second, and the third was a battle. To be able to stand here and be in the final, I am so excited that I get to be here on Saturday."

She added: "It was so up and down and there were so many big points and break-point chances that neither one of us got. Did she have a match point?I feel like I blacked out at some point and was just running around. Just to stay in it and keep fighting, and then the ten-point tiebreaker for an extra dramatic finish.

"At the end, we were both battling some nerves, really pushing each other. It just became who could get that final point, and who can be a little bit better than the other. I’m happy it was me.

Asked what the public can expect from the Keys-Sabalenka final, she said: "Definitely some big hitting is going to happen.

"Not a lot of long points. She’s going for her third Aussie Open, and I’m excited to get to play her, and the challenge - but Saturday is very far away in my brain right now."

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Keys is the oldest Women’s Singles finalist at the Australian Open since Serena and Venus Williams in 2017.

Keys is the player with the most main draw appearances needed to make their first Women’s Singles final at the Australian Open in the Open Era (11, equalling Caroline Wozniacki).

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The American makes it third time lucky as she finally triumphs in her third AO semi-final appearance to reach her maiden final Down Under.

The No19 seed hits back from a set down - and then a match point down in the decider - to outgun the World No.2 10-8 in a match tie-break and prevail in two hours and 35 minutes.

Keys will now face two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the final on Saturday after Swiatek fired a forehand off the island on match point.

The Belarusian, Sabalenka, is on a 20-match winning streak at the AO and bidding for a Threepeat that would take her major tally to four overall.

In contrast, Keys is into just the second Grand Slam final of her career, having finished as runner-up at the US Open in 2017, but she’s in top form after extending her winning-streak to 11 matches, having won the Adelaide title coming into the first major of 2025.

Keys unloads on the backhand and then stands firm in a pulsating rally to lure the forehand mistake into the net and level at 7-7.

Swiatek gets the short ball but doesn’t do enough and needs a sensational block volley to somehow stop Keys from hitting the front with a fizzing pass on the run.

Madison lands a pair of clutch serves and suddenly has match point!

Iga is the boss at the second change of ends.

Keys is still landing some heavy blows but a miss off the forehand leaves her with a lot to do at 3-5.

The No.19 seed is up for the fight, however, searing a scorcher of a forehand down the line to press at 5-6, but seconds later a very loose backhand drifts harmlessly long to undo a chunk of her hard work.

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It'll be a tough one to take for the loser.

Stream the 2025 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Swiatek double faults again after snaring an instant mini break, but somehow wobbles her way into a 3-1 lead.

A net cord goes Key’s way off a fizzing return but the Pole dictates on the next point and takes charge at the change of ends as she finds the open court with a sweeping backhand.

Wow, wow, wow!

Swiatek works her way to match point, but Keys continues to go for her shots and another thumping return takes her to deuce.

The American lands a timely, rapid crosscourt return to turn it around and earn the break back point where Swiatek buckles with a double fault!

The collective gasp won’t make the Pole feel any better, but she needs to reset fast now as she’s heading into the match tie-break.

It’s Iga Swiatek who makes the breakthrough in the decider!

The Pole pounces to unload a forehand winner for 0-30 and gets another look at triple break point when Keys double faults.

The No.19 seed sizzles a forehand up the line and then guns another winner off that flank, but the rescue-act stalls there as a brain-freeze dropper allows Iga to race forward and pop a forehand pass down the line.

The World No.2 will now serve for a place in the final.

Swiatek claws back a forehand from deep in the corner to find super length and angle to turn around the opening point.

The Pole then miscues a backhand and feels the pressure when Keys moves to within two points of the final with a forehand winner that takes her overall tally to 29 for the match.

Swiatek responds with more pace and width to the American’s forehand side to lure two errors and then survive to level when Maddy can’t make the volley at the net.  

The great escape in the previous game seems to dampen Key’s spirit and loosen up Iga.

The Pole suddenly hits her groundstrokes more cleanly and it’s Maddy who wobbles with a succession of poor misses off each wing that hands over triple break point.

The first serve rescues one, with another clutch delivery teeing up a smash that swats away the second.

Swiatek gets the short ball on the third but burrows a forehand into the net.

The rally of the match ensues at deuce with Iga earning a fourth chance with a wonderful forehand up the line.

Keys responds with a clutch serve and plus-one to flip the tables at deuce before another scorcher of a forehand winner somehow sees her wriggle out of dodge.

Swiatek must now hold to stay in the tournament.

Swiatek looks perplexed as her backhand wing falters badly.

The No.2 seed then fluffs a smash and faces up to two break points.

An excellent wide serve helps her stave off the first, but she’s let off the hook on the second when Keys nets a routine backhand.

The anguish on Maddy’s face suggests she felt that was the moment and she can’t re-focus enough to keep the heat on as Swiatek ducks out danger from deuce.

‘Come on!’ – bellows Madison Keys as she emphatically slams the door on a hold to 30, gunning wonderful winners off each wing from Pulp (30-30) to keep nudging that board.

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Iga is relieved to see Keys’ backhand down the line clip the tape and drop just wide on her side of the net.

The Pole surges 40-0 up but then rushes two poor backhands to show how far out of her comfort zone she currently stands.

It’s tense from the World No.2, but she is let off the hook when Keys nets a backhand off a rallying ball to allow the five-time major winner to tie the decider at three apiece.

Swiatek begins to ignite on the forehand and plays catch-up to press at 30-30.

Keys is no longer red-lining and a backhand from tight to her body skews into the net to offer up a break point.

The American plays bold and gets her reward, following up a lovely crosscourt backhand with a crushing forehand deep down the line.

A clutch serve and a barrage of humongous forehands ensure there’s no drop-off as the No.19 seed keeps her nose in front.  

The alarm bells blare for Iga as she struggles to find the island, coughing up unforced errors off both flanks to offer up break point.

Keys has a half chance with a forehand down the line that fizzes just long and Iga screams with relief when a body serve puts her in charge at deuce.

The Pole shows sharp reaction to neutralise a rocket return to her feet and then wins the cat and mouse around the net with an awkward backhand jab down the line that grits out the hold.   

There’s a determined clench of the fist from Keys as she finds great depth to force a forehand long and gobble up a hold to 30.

The American is continuing to find the balance between raw power and consistency that can so often go south for her.

The No.19 seed needs to maintain that if she’s to remain on the front foot and pull off the shock.

Swiatek knows she needs to find another gear here and this is a good sign that she’s up for the fight in the third.

The Pole finds more consistency with the first delivery and surges through a hold to 15 that she polishes off with an emphatic smash that carries a bit of frustration with it.

The stare across to the other side of the net says it all as Keys shows she’s not happy Iga took so long during the comfort break between sets.

The American knows the Pole will be hoping to dent her momentum, but there’s no sign of that in the opening game of the decider as Maddy lashes down an ace and a service winner before clinching a strong hold to 15 with a brutal swish of the backhand.