Madison Keys just pulled off an incredible upset at the Australian Open, taking down five-time Grand Slam champ Iga Swiatek in a nail-biting semifinal! After dropping the first set 5-7, Keys stormed back to win the second 6-1, showing her fierce determination. This win marks her first Grand Slam final since the 2017 US Open, and you could see the emotions pouring out as she celebrated on the court. Even former ATP pro, Andy Roddick couldn’t hold back his emotions!

Before the epic semifinal showdown, Roddick had some interesting insights on why the American could take down Swiatek. On his ‘Served’ podcast, he mentioned that Keys’ playing style would likely “bother Iga more,” emphasizing that “speed to the forehand is how you bother Iga Swiatek.” The prediction came true at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday. The final set was a rollercoaster, where Keys she saved a match point and clinched victory in a thrilling tiebreak, finishing with a score of 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(8).

Now that Keys has made it to her first Australian Open final, Roddick has shared his excitement again. He said, “I’m really, really overjoyed for Madison Keys. She’s a great person. You could see the active mental gymnastics she was going through, stuck to it, and executed. It sounds easy enough; it’s not.”

Iga Swiatek hadn’t dropped her serve all tournament, but in the semifinal that lasted 2 hours and 35 minutes, Madison Keys broke her an incredible eight times. Keys even saved a match point before sealing the win in an epic tiebreaker, showing unbelievable grit!

Madison Keys has been on an incredible ten-match win streak after her Adelaide International title and she hasn’t done it alone; Since 2023 Keys has been working with her husband, Bjorn Fratangelo, who is also her coach. That partnership has left Andy Roddick in awe. “If you’re her and you are feeling physically fatigued and your Bjorn Fratangelo, who is her husband-coach, like how—that deserves a f****** award—how do you pull that off?” Roddick said. “We can’t decide what we want for dinner, I don’t care, what do you want? We can fight over that in our household. They’re trying to win majors together.” He praised the couple for their teamwork and ability to balance such a high-stakes dynamic.

Keys’ next opponent is two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka. Their H2H currently stands at 4-1, with Sabalenka in the lead. The last time Sabalenka defeated Keys in the 2023 US Open semifinals, it left her shattered.

Keys’ previous Grand Slam encounter with Sabalenka

For the unversed, Madison Keys lost 6-0, 6-7(1), 6-7(5) after winning the first set against Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals of the 2023 US Open. She later opened up during a press conference, saying, “I think everyone at the start of the tournament would obviously be really, really excited to be in the semis, but right now it sucks. But, yeah, I just think being able to take this and turn it into a positive is really possible and yeah, there’s still a lot to be proud of.” But now, with a chance for redemption, Keys is ready to face Sabalenka once again in the final.

As tennis journalist Bastein Fachan put it, “Now Madison Keys gets to face Aryna Sabalenka again in a Grand Slam FINAL ✨ DESTINY!!!” The only time Keys managed to defeat the Belarusian was during the 2021 Berlin Open in the round of 16. Looking ahead to Saturday’s final, the American isn’t expecting long rallies; instead, she anticipates a power-packed contest.

“Definitely some big hitting – I think it is going to happen. Not a lot of long points,” she said after her semifinal win. She acknowledged Sabalenka’s dominance: “She is obviously going for her third Aussie Open and I’m excited to get to play her. I’m really excited for the challenge … (but) Saturday is very far away in my brain right now.”

With just one day to go until their big showdown at Rod Laver Arena, the stage is set for an electrifying final. Will Madison finally get her revenge against Sabalenka?