Iga Swiatek matches 19-year Maria Sharapova record after reaching the Australian Open semi-finals

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Iga Swiatek matched a Maria Sharapova statistic after reaching the Australian Open semi-finals.

The Pole has been ruthless at Melbourne Park on the way to reaching the last four at the Grand Slam for the first time since 2022.

She has yet to drop a set and that continued when Swiatek dispatched Emma Navarro for the loss of just three games on Wednesday.

This is the first hard court major semi-final that Swiatek has reached since she beat Ons Jabeur to win the 2022 US Open.

Iga Swiatek matches records with Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open

In a contest that many expected to be a tight affair, Iga Swiatek took just 89 minutes to claim a 6-1, 6-2 victory.

The Pole struck 22 winners and 82% of her first serve points during what was a ruthless performance against Emma Navarro.

The result means Swiatek has broken two records last set by five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova. 

Swiatek has now reached her seventh Grand Slam semi-final and she is the youngest player to achieve this since the Russian reached her seventh at the 2006 US Open.

Secondly, Swiatek has also lost just 14 games on the way to the Australian Open semi-finals. This is the fewest since Sharapova lost just nine games on her way to the last four at Melbourne Park in 2013.

Iga Swiatek previews Australian Open semi-final against Madison Keys

The World number two will face the toughest test of her Australian Open campaign so far when Swiatek she takes on Madison Keys in the semi-finals.

The hard-hitting American is on a 10-match winning streak after entering the Grand Slam after winning the Adelaide International.

This is Keys’ first Grand Slam semi-final since the 2022 Australian Open and she is looking very dangerous.

But Swiatek, who has won four of her five previous matches against Keys, assessed her next opponent’s game and what she needs to do well in Thursday’s encounter.

“She likes to also play intensely and pretty fast. You know, and she’s using her powers, especially on a faster hard court,” Swiatek told reporters. “I need to be ready for that and be proactive and also good in defense.

“I guess in the semis if you play against any opponent, they deserve to be there, so it’s going to be tough no matter what, no matter who is on the other side of the net. So I’ll do my best.”