Madison Keys has an opportunity for tennis immortality once more — and it took every thing she needed to get there.
The 29-year-old American surprised No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek on the Australian Open with a dizzying show of energy and shot-making to advance to the Grand Slam closing, taking the thrilling third set in a tiebreaker.
Swiatek, who had dominated her approach by the draw, took the primary set, 7-5, earlier than Keys got here again to win the second, 6-1.
The third set was a scintillating back-and-forth battle, which stayed on serve — regardless of a number of break alternatives for each gamers — until 5-5.
Swiatek lastly broke by on Keys’ serve however was unable to shut the match on her personal racket, failing to transform a match level after which double serving on break level.
Keys trailed many of the third set breaker earlier than lastly taking the ultimate 4 factors to push previous her Polish rival and into her first Grand Slam closing for the reason that 2017 U.S. Open.
It gained’t get any simpler from right here for Keys.
She is going to face No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka within the finals on Saturday — going from the all-court problem Swiatek presents to the brute energy Sabalenka makes use of to bully opponents.
Sabalenka will likely be seeking to take her second straight Grand Slam after beating one other American, Jessica Pegula, within the finals of the U.S. Open in September.
