Keys saves match point, upsets Swiatek to reach 2025 Australian Open final

Madison Keys is back in a Grand Slam final after delivering one of the performances of her career at the Australian Open. In a thrilling match that finished in the early hours of Friday morning in Melbourne, the American saved a match point in a 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(8) victory against Iga Swiatek, clinching the win with a brilliant finish to the decisive 10-point tiebreak. She will face two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday's final, when she will play for her first major crown.

Keys took the semifinal match to Swiatek with a measured yet power-packed baseline display, while flashing her variety and defensive skills to frustrate the five-time major champion. After dominating the second set, Keys saved a match point to deny the second seed's bid to serve out the victory at 6-5, 40-30 in the final set.

Trailing for almost the entirety of the deciding tiebreak, Keys won five of the match's final six points—including the last three from 7-8 down—to stun the Polish world No. 2.

"It was so up and down, and there were so many big points and break point chances that neither one of us got," said Keys, who saved 10 of 16 break points. "Did she have a match point? I feel like I blacked out at some point and I was just out there running around. Just to be able to stay in it, keep fighting, and then a 10-point tiebreak for an extra-dramatic finish."

Now on an 11-match winning streak, the longest of her career, Keys will bid for her second consecutive tour-level title (and 10th overall) after her Adelaide triumph two weeks ago.

The 29-year-old reached her lone previous major final at the 2017 US Open, when she emerged from an all-American final four but lost to Sloane Stephens in the title match. She has now competed in seven major semifinals; her most recent one prior to this Aussie Open came at the 2023 US Open, when she was edged by Sabalenka, 0-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(5).

The American was in tears after that epic match, but cried tears of joy after battling past Swiatek in Melbourne—a victory made sweeter by the long journey back to a Slam final.

In a match that hung in the balance for every bit of two hours and 35 minutes, Keys' composure during her finishing flurry made all the difference.

"That match was such high level, she played so well and I felt like I was trying to stay with it, then kind of ran through the second set and the third was just a battle," added Keys, who ripped 36 winners. "To be standing here and to be in the finals is absolutely amazing, and I’m so excited to be playing in the final on Saturday.”

After notching her second career win against former world No. 1 Swiatek, Keys will seek her second win against current No. 1 Sabalenka in the final. Regardless of the result, Keys is guaranteed to return to the WTA's Top 10 after the tournament, joining Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro to make it four Americans in that elite group.

For more from Melbourne, visit the official Australian Open website.