Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, will face Madison Keys in the Australian Open final after Keys saved a match point before shocking world number two Iga Swiatek.
Keys advanced to the second major final in her career by shocking five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek 5-7 6-1 7-6 (10-8) in the match.
In the third set, Poland’s Swiatek served to end the match at 6-5 and held match point, but Keys saved it, rallied, and then won a tense tiebreaker after falling behind 7-5.
“The third set was really up and down,” Keys remarked. Big points and breakpoint opportunities were abundant. At one point, I think I blacked out while just racing about.
