Madison Keys advanced to her first Australian Open final with a thrilling win over Iga Swiatek.
Grand Slam tennis never fails to excite, with Keys and Swiatek’s three-set battle the latest classic to occur on Rod Laver Arena.
After the pair exchanged breaks early on in the first set, it was Swiatek who eventually came out on top, winning the first 7-5.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Keys raised her game to another level in the second set, becoming the first player to take a set off the Pole at the 2025 Australian Open, levelling things up at, 5-7, 6-1.
The third set was nail-biting from start to finish, as Swiatek failed to convert a match point at *6-5 before the American sent things into a deciding set tiebreaker for a place in the Australian Open final.
Momentum swung back and forth, before the 29-year-old finished the job, taking home the win, and securing her place in a second-career Major final.
One of the matches many talking points came after Keys won the second set, as Swiatek took a ‘lengthy’ toilet break.
The 23-year-old was criticized for doing so, with her American opponent now giving her thoughts on the situation.
Madison Keys asked the umpire how much time Iga Swiatek had left during lengthy toilet break
During her post-match press conference, Keys revealed what she asked the umpire during Swiatek’s toilet break ahead of the third set.
“I was just asking how much time she had left, because it wasn’t up on the board,” she said.
“I was just asking him how much longer it was, her break.
“The clock ran out on my change, but not hers, so I was just asking.”
Toilet breaks and medical time-outs have been criticized over recent weeks, with many suggesting that they are being used for ‘tactical’ purposes.
After the match Keys was asked whether she thinks the rules need to be adjusted.
“I think the rules are fine,” she said.
Swiatek was heavily criticized on social media for taking too long to prepare herself for the third set and can be seen practicing shots while Keys waited to serve.
“Rules are rules unless you’re Iga Swiatek,” said one fan on X.
Madison Keys explains the ‘biggest lesson’ she learned during her first Grand Slam final eight years ago
Keys will be playing in her first Australian Open final, but she has in fact made it to a Major final once before.
Back in 2017, Keys advanced to the final of the US Open where she came up against fellow American Sloane Stephens.
It wasn’t to be for the big-hitting star, as she lost in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0.
Speaking ahead of her second Slam final, Keys gave an insight into what she learned from her defeat in New York.
“I think the big thing for me has just been knowing that there are going to be a lot of moments where I’m uncomfortable in the match,” she said.
“It’s going to be stressful, you have thousands of people watching you, you might not be playing your best tennis.
“But instead of trying to shy away from that and search for settling or comfort or anything, just being okay that that’s the situation, and you can also play tennis through that, I think is something that I’ve been working really hard on.
“I think that’s probably one of the biggest lessons that I can take from that US Open final and just be okay with knowing that I’m probably going to be uncomfortable 99% of the time that I’m on the court, and that’s okay, and I can still also play tennis through that.”
Keys did, however, admit that her 2017 defeat has been on her mind for quite some time.
“Yeah, I mean, I’ve obviously thought of that match endlessly for the past eight years,” she said.
Keys will hope to finally get her hands on a Grand Slam trophy as she takes on Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final on Saturday, January 25.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
