No tennis player enjoys losing, but Thursday’s departed semifinalists at Australian Open 2025 might have left Melbourne Park in completely different spirits.
While Paula Badosa exited in straight sets to good friend Aryna Sabalenka as the underdog in her first Grand Slam semifinal — a shopping spree could be on the way for the Spaniard, too — Iga Swiatek fell in a nailbiter against Madison Keys 5-7 6-1 7-6[10-8].
For the first time in her limited but illustrious Grand Slam career, Swiatek suffered defeat after having a match point.
The Pole was the favourite on paper in her semifinal, holding not only five major titles but both a lopsided winning record against Keys (4-1) and hefty record in the final four in Grand Slams (5-1).
She had dropped a mere 14 games through five matches.
So how much did it hurt to not capitalise on the match point, miss out on a spot in a first Australian Open final and also know that she won’t regain the No.1 ranking from Sabalenka?
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The 23-year-old didn’t need to provide a lengthy answer to convey her emotions.
“You have to experience that to know,” she responded.
Swiatek won’t soon forget what happened under the lights at Rod Laver Arena. Indeed, tennis players have admitted to experiencing sleepless nights when on the wrong end of such cliffhangers.
Swiatek’s match point came on her own serve at 6-5 in the particularly gripping third set. Her first serve went in the direction of the often devastating Keys forehand and back the return came with interest down the middle, prompting a backhand miscue.
In the match tiebreak, Swiatek also led for the majority of it, even building a 7-5 lead.
“I think I'm pretty spoiled in a way that I could always use these chances,” said Swiatek. “When I had an opportunity to win, I always kind of win.
“Obviously it's disappointing when it doesn't happen, but this is sport, so it's not always going to go my way. Madison also really did the work as she should.
“She totally deserves to be in the final.”
Adelaide International champion Keys increased her winning streak to 11 matches, no doubt playing some of the best tennis of her career close to her 30th birthday thanks in part to switching racquets to add more control to the rare, huge power she possesses.
In the two sets she won, Keys combined to smack a tidy 26 winners to only 24 unforced errors.
Swiatek noticed a difference compared to their previous matches.
“For sure she made less mistakes, less mistakes than on those matches I won against her. I also played against her in Cincinnati where she also kind of played perfectly, and I had nothing to say,” said Swiatek, referring to Keys’ 6-3 6-4 win on hard courts in 2022.
“I know she could do both. I didn't know which one she's going to be (on Thursday). I think she was just more solid than when we played these matches that I won.”
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In assessing her own game, Swiatek lamented her serve.
“I think maybe I would have won it sometimes if I could win easy points with my serve as she did kind of,” said Swiatek, who hit seven double faults and claimed just 53 per cent of her first-serve points.
“She could always come back from being in trouble with the serve, but I didn't serve as well. So maybe that would make a difference.”
The character that she is, Swiatek alongside newish coach Wim Fissette, is bound to keep on exploring ways to make her already potent game even better, after tweaking her service action early last year.
Keys became the fourth consecutive power baseliner to top Swiatek at the Australian Open, following Linda Noskova, Elena Rybakina and Keys’ pal, Danielle Collins in the previous three years.
Still, Swiatek did take heart from her successful Australian summer, which began at the United Cup.
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“Overall, pretty positive,” said Swiatek. “As a person, I've been feeling a bit better than previous years here.
“For sure United Cup always brings a lot of positive emotions, but here I always felt tense and really, I don't know, just like not always happy. This year it was different. For sure it gives me a positive vibe for the rest of the season.
“Obviously for sure I wanted more. I already played a semifinal. I wanted to win this one, but I think if I keep working hard, I'll have more chances in the future, and maybe I'll use them as I didn't use my match point.”