Australian Open: Sabalenka and Keys Set for Final Showdown After Dramatic Semifinal Wins
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Synopsis
On January 23, Aryna Sabalenka and Madison Keys will face off in the Australian Open final after their respective semifinals. Keys upset Iga Swiatek, while Sabalenka defeated Paula Badosa, positioning them for an exciting championship match.
Key Takeaways
- Aryna Sabalenka and Madison Keys will compete in the Australian Open final.
- Keys achieved a surprising victory over second seed Iga Swiatek.
- Sabalenka dominated Paula Badosa to secure her place in the final.
- Keys has demonstrated remarkable endurance throughout the tournament.
- Sabalenka aims for a historic third consecutive title.
Melbourne, Jan 23 (NationPress) The reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka and 19th seed Madison Keys are set to clash in the final of the Australian Open following their distinct victories in the women's singles semifinals on Thursday. In a thrilling late-night match, the powerful Keys secured her place against Sabalenka with a stunning 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (8) upset over second seed Iga Swiatek.
The 2017 US Open finalist delivered an impressive performance, hitting seven aces and 36 winners, bringing her closer to a first Grand Slam title, as reported by Xinhua.
Entering Saturday's final as the underdog, Keys will face off against top seed Sabalenka, who dominated 11th seed Paula Badosa with a score of 6-4, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena in just one hour and 26 minutes. Although Sabalenka started slowly, finding herself down 2-0 and 40-love, she quickly found her rhythm, taking control of the match. The Belarusian recorded 31 winners compared to Badosa's 11, breaking her opponent four times.
Badosa, displaying an aggressive approach initially, struggled to maintain her level and could not match Sabalenka's intensity. The former world No.2 was unable to replicate her form from the quarterfinals where she upset third seed Coco Gauff.
Sabalenka showcased her dominance and is on track for a potential hat-trick of titles, a feat achieved by only five women in the tournament's history, with the last being Martina Hingis in 1999. "It’s a privilege if I can etch my name into history; it would mean everything to me," expressed Sabalenka, who has now won 20 consecutive matches at Melbourne Park. "I’m incredibly proud of myself and my team for reaching this point."
In the second semifinal, an emotional Keys triumphed after two hours and 35 minutes in a captivating match that extended past midnight. The 29-year-old American has demonstrated remarkable endurance, having navigated through four three-set matches to reach her second Grand Slam final.
She faced her toughest challenge against Swiatek, who had lost only 14 games in her first five matches. Swiatek seized the advantage in a tense first set, but the match shifted when Keys found her rhythm, unleashing powerful groundstrokes to equalize.
Swiatek had not lost a set until that moment, leading to a back-and-forth exchange. Although Swiatek had a match point in the 12th game of the third set, she could not capitalize, allowing Keys to elevate her game and win in a thrilling match tiebreak. "That match was of such high quality; she played exceptionally well. The third set was a true battle," said Keys. "Standing here in the final is incredibly exhilarating."
It was a painful disappointment for five-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek, who has yet to reach the final of the Australian Open.
Meanwhile, sixth seeds Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten advanced in a nail-biting men's doubles semifinal with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7) against the German fourth seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz. The Wimbledon champions will face third seeds Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in Saturday's final. The Italians staged a comeback to defeat Andre Goransson and Sem Verbeek 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, reaching the final for a second consecutive year.
The men's singles semifinals are set for Friday, with second seed Alexander Zverev going head-to-head with 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, while defending champion Jannik Sinner faces 12th seed Ben Shelton in the night session on Rod Laver Arena.
