Iga Swiatek of Poland has powered her way into the Australian Open semifinals with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over the USA’s Emma Navarro at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday. This marks Swiatek’s second trip to the semifinals in Melbourne, showcasing her relentless form.
The five-time Grand Slam champion came out swinging, breaking Navarro to love in the opening game and never looked back. Swiatek’s aggressive play and unwavering energy kept Navarro on the defensive throughout the match.
Swiatek will next face American Madison Keys, who fought back to defeat Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a gripping quarterfinal clash. While Keys is searching for her first Grand Slam title, she’ll be up against an in-form Swiatek, who has not dropped a set in the tournament and has only conceded 14 games across her five matches.
The match wasn’t without controversy. In the fifth game of the second set, Swiatek raced forward to retrieve a drop shot that appeared to bounce twice before she made contact. Play continued, and Swiatek won the point and the game, leaving Navarro frustrated as she appealed to the chair umpire. However, since Navarro didn’t stop the rally to dispute the call, she had no opportunity to challenge afterward.
“I didn’t see the replay after this point because I wanted to stay focused and didn’t want this point to stay in my head for a longer period of time,” Swiatek told reporters when asked about the incident.
Meanwhile, the top half of the women’s draw features title favorite and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, who secured her semifinal spot against Paula Badosa on Tuesday. However, with her dominant performances, Swiatek is emerging as a strong contender for the title, capturing the attention of tennis fans worldwide.
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Swiatek advances to women's singles semifinals at Australian Open
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