The Match Of Her Life: American Madison Keys Upset Iga Swiatek In A Late Night Thriller As She Punched Her Ticket To The Aussie Open Final
Icon Sportswire. Getty Images.For the 10 people who clicked on this blog, here's a little background before we dive into the match. Madison Keys has been around on the WTA Tour doing her thing for over a decade now. Always hovering in 10-20s when it comes to the world rankings, she's maintained consistent staying power at a top tier level in the sport for a long time. She hits with some of the best power on the women's side with a serve and forehand that can give anyone trouble if she's on. Unfortunately injuries and struggles in big moments have always plagued her when it came to deep slam success. Just last year she had to retire from her Round of 16 match against Jasmine Paolini at 5-5 in the 3rd because of injury. In the 2023 US Open semis she blew a 6-0, 5-3 lead over Sabalenka. She's an incredibly like-able player on tour and has had success no doubt, but her slam heartbreak is a cloud she's yet to escape. She was flat-out broken after that loss to Sabalenka.
Well, it might finally be her time. Am I being roped in once more to believe Madi can get it done? No question, and I'm ready to get hurt again, but goddamn was she great today.
Early this morning and late into the night in Australia Keys pulled off a big-time upset and knocked out Iga Swiatek to punch her ticket to the AO Final. It took three sets, a comeback from a set down, and a 10 point match tiebreak but she got it done.
Just to give you an idea of how in-form Iga was going into this match, she hadn't been pushed to losing 3 games in a set since the opening round.
Iga is the best returner in the game and breaks at a near 50% clip. You have to serve perfectly to beat her and even then it might not be enough. Her movement and ball placement is just that good. Keys decided to play the match of her life against her and prevailed in three amazing sets. All that shit about her not stepping up in big moments and mishandling the nerves? Yeah that's gone. She was nails.
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Her reaction to the win says it all. Finally it was her coming back from the dead and taking a huge match from someone else. She was outstanding and the emotions coming out were justified.
Apologies for the lack of highlights, the Aussie Open flat-out sucks when it comes to promoting their matches. Classic tennis. Anyways, here's the final 10 point tiebreak that was back and forth.
The only person left in Madison's way of her first grand slam title is of course Aryna Sabalenka. If she's trying to fully exorcise her demons then that's a fitting final boss when you think back to the 2023 US Open loss. Saba going off at a -300 favorite right now which sounds about right. She's a beast and is probably happy Iga lost if we're being honest, but if Keys brings this level to the finals she absolutely can win.
Tonight is the men's semifinals. Around 10:30pm EST we have Novak Djokovic vs. Alexander Zverev. No telling what shape Novak is in as he canceled yesterday's practice session to rest whatever he's dealing with. Late into the night Jannik Sinner will take on American Ben Shelton. Gonna be a long night folks, get the coffee ready.