Australian Open 2025 results: Madison Keys stuns Iga Swiatek to set up Aryna Sabalenka final

Madison Keys saved a match point against world No. 2 Iga Swiatek to pull off a stunning upset and will face two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final. Keys defeated five-time major winner Swiatek 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (10-8) to reach her second Grand Slam final of her career.

In the third set, Swiatek of Poland had a chance to close out the match while leading 6-5 and held a match point. However, Keys successfully saved the match point, broke back, and then rallied from 5-7 down in the ensuing tiebreak to advance to the final. Keys stated, "The third set was a roller coaster with a lot of key points and break chances. I felt like my brain was just blank at one point, and I was just running around on the court."

Keys' victory came after top-seeded Sabalenka of Belarus defeated her friend Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2. Sabalenka has the opportunity to become the first woman in 26 years to win three consecutive Australian Open titles. While Keys has achieved her best result at the Australian Open, Sabalenka aims to match Martina Hingis' feat of winning three consecutive titles from 1997-99.

Sabalenka stated, "I am super happy and proud of myself and my team for achieving this. It would mean a lot to me if my name was written in history; it is something I could never have dreamed of." Swiatek's loss also means Sabalenka will remain world No. 1 after this tournament. Swiatek had been in excellent form in Melbourne, losing only 14 games in her five matches before the semi-finals. For context, only three players had lost fewer games entering the semi-finals of a 128-draw Australian Open in the Open Era. However, the four-time French Open champion was ultimately defeated by a red-hot Keys, who was determined to win her third attempt at an Australian Open semi-final.

The match started with shaky play from both sides, with five breaks of serve in the first six games, setting the tone for Swiatek's match under the roof at Rod Laver Arena. Swiatek took the first set after breaking for the fourth time, but then completely collapsed in the second set. Keys overpowered Swiatek in just 27 minutes, winning five consecutive games to force a decider. Both players saved multiple break points in a thrilling, high-quality deciding set.

Swiatek eventually seized her eighth opportunity to lead 6-5, but after failing to convert her first match point, she dropped her serve with a double fault. Keys and the match deserved a winner-takes-all tiebreak, but Swiatek appeared to be in control when leading 7-5. However, in a final impressive display of physical and mental toughness, Keys won five of the next six points to complete a stunning victory after two hours and 35 minutes. When discussing the final against Sabalenka, Keys stated, "There will definitely be a lot of big hitting and not many long rallies, but I am very excited for the challenge."

Top seed Sabalenka previously called Badosa her "soulmate," but she successfully put their off-court relationship aside to continue her pursuit of a third consecutive win at Melbourne Park. Sabalenka, who won the Australian Open and US Open titles last year, quickly dropped a service game against Badosa, and the Spaniard had a chance to lead 3-0. However, Sabalenka strongly countered, winning 12 of the next 16 games to achieve her 20th consecutive win in this tournament.

The two barely exchanged glances while focused on their respective tasks, but they shared a relieved smile after Badosa made an early error in the second set, and Badosa gave a reassuring thumbs-up while lying on the ground. The match began evenly, but when Badosa, who was playing in her first Grand Slam semi-final, gifted her service game to Sabalenka with two consecutive double faults, the match began to drift away from her. In the fifth game, Sabalenka broke again, achieving one of her 32 winners, and then won the match in one hour and 26 minutes. Sabalenka later consoled Badosa in the players' area, saying, "It was a super tough match against a friend, and I am very happy to see her reach her highest level of her career."