Madison Keys recovered from a set down and saved a match level within the third set earlier than edging an excellent tiebreak to seal an exhilarating 5-7 6-1 7-6(8) victory over Iga Swiatek and attain her second Grand Slam last on the Australian Open.
The match started with 4 consecutive breaks of serve, however Swiatek ended the streak with a assured maintain to take a 3-2 lead. It appeared she was on monitor to dominate the set, together with her opponent struggling to carry serve. Nonetheless, Keys shifted the momentum. Trailing 5-2 and dealing with a set level, Keys held serve for the primary time, sparking a comeback that noticed her stage the rating at 5-5. Swiatek, unfazed, responded with a flawless service sport, holding at like to halt Keys’ surge. She then broke the American’s serve for the fourth time to clinch the set.
Swiatek appeared to have switched off after profitable the primary set, as Keys stormed to a 5-0 lead within the second set, ultimately profitable it 6-1 after an change of breaks. The battle intensified within the third set, as each gamers saved a number of break factors and held their serves till 5-5.
Within the eleventh sport of the decider, Swiatek earned a 40-0 lead on Keys’ serve and used her third alternative to file the primary break of the set, even incomes a match level within the following sport. However the drama didn’t finish there! Swiatek’s sixth double fault handed Keys the break again, and the semifinal then surged into an excellent tiebreak, the place Keys staged a exceptional comeback, edging it regardless of trailing 7-5.
Keys could have a giant impediment earlier than she lifts the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup – two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka who defeated greatest buddy Paula Badosa within the earlier semifinal. Sabalenka leads Keys 4-1 of their head-to-head and has gained their final three conferences.
