At the 2025 Australian Open, Iga Swiatek is in a league of her own. The former World No.1 and five-time Grand Slam champion has won all her sets, dropping only 14 games in five matches at the Major down under. Remember the hard courts in Australia used to be her biggest foes? In her last six appearances in Melbourne, it’s been the usual pattern – but not this time! This season, she’s already equaled her best run at AO, from 2022, securing a semifinal spot. But can she take it one step further and clinch her maiden Melbourne major title? WTA legend, Justine Henin pinpoints Swiatek’s Melbourne struggles, offering winning advice!

The tennis world eagerly awaits the potential Aryna Sabalenka-Świątek final at the Australian Open, a clash between the top two ranked players. Before that happens, the world No. 2 player will have to outclass America’s Madison Keys in the semis. Three years ago, the Polish sensation was outclassed by another American in her first SF appearance in Melbourne. Will she be able to get past this time around? Henin, who was an expert on all surfaces, dished out a key factor.

In a January 22nd interaction with Polish publication Sport.pl, seven-time Major winner Henin spoke on Swiatek’s consistent dry run in Australia. “Australian Open are courts with a completely different surface than those in Europe. Much faster,” Henin revealed. Highlighting the key reason for the Pole’s struggle on hard courts, the Eurosport expert said that she “does not feel as comfortable on them. She still has to work on adapting to this surface, find the rhythm on it, get used to speed and understand the game so that, also make changes in her tennis.”

Henin, who has won four times at Roland Garros, twice at the US Open and once at the Australian Open, noted that it’s “just a matter of time and experience, but I think Iga still has to properly adjust her tennis on non-clay surfaces, she still has to adapt to them. This is one of the reasons why she has never reached the final of the Australian Open.”

But she also hoped for a positive fate, this time for Swiatek at the ‘Happy Slam’. “I believe she will get there now. I see that she is getting stronger and stronger, that she is making progress every year,” Henin concluded.

However, she’s yet to make it to the final and for that, the World No.2 will have to go through Madison Keys. They are set to lock horns in the SF round on Thursday at the Rod Laver. Before their encounter, however, a former AO winner has issued a warning.

Madison Keys could be a huge threat for Iga Swiatek, hints Caroline Wozniacki

Speaking of the World No.10 American pro, Keys has been in a superb form in the first major of the season. At the start of 2025, she couldn’t prove her mettle in the ASB Classic but then shined at the Adelaide International. She eventually won that tournament, a few weeks back, defeating compatriot Jessica Pegula with a score line of 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.

Fresh off her victory in Adelaide, she entered the Australian Open last week. Since then, the No.19 seed been on an unbeaten run. On her way to the semifinal, Madison Keys beat Ann Li, Elena-Gabriela Ruse, Danielle Collins, No. 6 seed Elena Rybakina, and Elina Svitolina. In an episode of the Rennae Stubbs podcast, Danish player and 2018 AO champion Wozniacki shared her take on Keys’ stellar form in the event.

Wozniacki noted that Keys has “been playing extremely well, she has a lot of power. She can beat anyone on a good day.” Adding further before Keys’ encounter with Svitolina in the QFs, she said, “I think she feels more relaxed now too. I don’t know, she got married, and her husband is her coach. I don’t know, I don’t feel like she’s overwhelmed by the situation right now and she’s been playing well here. So I think I mean that could go anywhere. She could lose to Svitolina next.” Well, Keys proved everyone wrong!

Speaking of the match-up itself, Iga Swiatek currently leads the h2h tally 4-1 against Keys. Prior to the match, she appears to be a clear favorite to make it into her first Australian Open final. What’s your prediction? Let us know in the comments below.