Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and 19th seed Madison Keys are set to face off in the Australian Open women’s singles final after thrilling semifinal victories on Thursday.
In a nerve-wracking late-night match, Madison Keys overcame second seed Iga Swiatek with an upset 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 victory. The 29-year-old American fired seven aces and 36 winners, moving a step closer to claiming her first Grand Slam title.
Keys will meet top seed Sabalenka in Saturday’s final. Sabalenka, showing dominant form, dispatched 11th seed Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2 in just under an hour and a half on Rod Laver Arena.
Sabalenka began her semifinal slowly, trailing behind her close friend Badosa, but quickly found her rhythm. The Belarusian powerhouse finished with 31 winners and secured four service breaks to take control of the match.
“I’m so proud of myself and my team,” Sabalenka said after earning her spot in the final. “It’s a privilege to have the chance to make history. It means the world to me.”
Meanwhile, Keys showcased incredible endurance, battling through four three-set matches to reach her second Grand Slam final. Her semifinal against Swiatek was a gripping contest that lasted over two and a half hours and ended past midnight.
After dropping the first set, Keys turned the tide by unleashing powerful groundstrokes to level the match. Despite Swiatek’s strong performance throughout the tournament, Keys prevailed in a tense third-set tiebreak.
“That match was such high level; she played so well,” Keys remarked. “To be standing here and in the final is so exciting.”
The upcoming clash promises to be an exciting showdown between Sabalenka’s relentless power and Keys’ resilience. Tennis fans around the world eagerly await to see who will lift the trophy at Melbourne Park.
