Melbourne, Jan 22 (UNI) Madison Keys has returned to the Australian Open semifinals for the third time in her career, marking a poignant full-circle moment 10 years after making her first big Grand Slam breakthrough at Melbourne Park.
The 28-year-old American, who was just 19 when she stunned Venus Williams in 2015, defeated No. 28 seed Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a thrilling quarterfinal on Wednesday.
Keys, who entered the match with a nine-match winning streak following her title victory in Adelaide, demonstrated resilience and powerful groundstrokes to secure the win after dropping the first set.
The match, which stretched over nearly two hours, saw Keys strike 49 winners, including six aces, as she battled past the Ukrainian, with a single break of serve in each set making the difference.
Reflecting on her journey, Keys said, “To be here 10 years later in the semifinals again, I’m really proud of myself and really excited to play another semifinal here in Melbourne.”
Looking forward, Keys will face No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek for a chance to reach her first Australian Open final.
UNI BDN ARN