Madison Keys Storms Back to Reach Australian Open Semifinals

Keys Leads the WTA Tour with 12 Wins This Season and 10-Match Unbeaten Streak

Madison Keys, the 19th seed, has stormed back from a set down to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open, beating Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Keys’ Resilience Pays Off

Keys, who will be 30 next month, showed her resilience to fight back against Svitolina, who held the upper hand in the early stages. “I felt like I kind of just had to start playing a little bit more aggressive and try to get to the net a little bit quicker,” Keys admitted. “She was, you know, controlling a lot of the points and making me run. So I felt like I needed to try to get the advantage a little bit quicker. And luckily, I was able to do that.”

A Strong Start to the Season

Keys has had a strong start to the season, leading the WTA Tour with 12 wins and now on a 10-match unbeaten streak after lifting the Adelaide title. She had battled past former Melbourne finalists Elena Rybakina and Danielle Collins on her way to the last eight.

The Turning Point

The first set began in cagey fashion until the eighth game, when Svitolina converted her first break point as Keys went long to take a 5-3 lead. She created three set points with an ace out wide and then sealed the opener in 33 minutes when Keys netted. Keys, who was playing defensively in the first set, upped her pace at the start of the second.

A Comeback for the Ages

Keys was not to be denied, creating two more openings at 3-2, securing the second with a forehand winner from the baseline and serving out to level the match after 76 minutes. With only a single dropped serve each, the next break was likely to be the pivotal one. Keys created two more chances to break at 2-2, jumping all over the second of them with a backhand return winner to move ahead. The winners kept flowing and she sealed her place in the last four in 1hr 53min.

What’s Next for Keys?

Keys will now meet either Iga Swiatek or Emma Navarro for a place in the final. She will also move back into the top 10 in the rankings after her impressive win.

FAQs

* What is Madison Keys’ current ranking on the WTA Tour?
+ 19th seed
* How many wins does Madison Keys have this season?
+ 12
* How many matches has Madison Keys won in a row?
+ 10
* Who will Madison Keys face in the next round?
+ Iga Swiatek or Emma Navarro
* What is Madison Keys’ current age?
+ 30 (next month)