Summary

  • Women's singles semi-finals on day 12 of Australian Open

  • Madison Keys comes from behind to stun Iga Swiatek and reach final against Aryna Sabalenka

  • Keys saved match point in a 5-7 6-1 7-6 (10-8) over second seed Swiatek

  • Sabalenka beat Paula Badosa in straight sets to reach final for third year in a row

  • Sabalenka will also retain world number one ranking regardless of result

  • Use audio icon for BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary (UK only)

  1. Goodbye!published at 13:45 Greenwich Mean Time

    That's all from the three us today, but we'll be back very early tomorrow morning for the men's semi-finals.

    Andy Murray-coached Novak Djokovic takes on Alexander Zverev before Jannik Sinner faces Ben Shelton.

    Don't forget you can keep up to date with all things Australian Open on our dedicated page. Enjoy!

  2. Keys-Sabalenka head-to-head recordpublished at 13:42 Greenwich Mean Time

    Aryna Sabalenka is aiming to emulate Martina Hingis' three straight titles between 1997-99.

    Earlier today she cruised into the final with a 6-4 6-2 win over close friend Paula Badosa.

    Sabalenka and Keys have met each other five times on tour, with Sabalenka winning on four occasions.

    That one Keys win was on grass in Berlin in 2021. Sabalenka won their last meeting on the hard courts of Beijing in October.

  3. Postpublished at 13:38 Greenwich Mean Time

    A tiny bit of bookkeeping. Iga Swiatek's loss means Aryna Sabalenka will be world number one on Monday, whatever the result in this weekend's final.

  4. Postpublished at 13:36 Greenwich Mean Time

    Keys 5-7 6-1 7-6 (10-8) Swiatek

    Madison Keys had lost her past four Grand Slam semi-finals coming into this match.

    She'd only ever reached one previous Grand Slam final.

    Today though she came in clutch. She won four of the last five points in the tie-break.

  5. 'I'm really excited for the challenge' - Keyspublished at 13:33 Greenwich Mean Time

    More from Madison Keys: "I think at the end we were both battling some nerves and really just pushing each other and it came who can get this final point and who can kind of just be a little bit better than the other one, and I'm happy it was me."

    On the final against Aryna Sabalenka: "There will definitely be some big hitting and definitely not a lot of long points but she's obviously going for her third Australia Open and I'm excited to get to play her.

    "I'm really excited for the challenge and I don't know, Saturday is very far ahead in my brain right now."

    On what her plan is: "I'm probably going to go and hug my team and then I will have a bunch of obligations that I will run around and do but I think I'm just going to try and enjoy this a little bit and then get ready for Saturday."

    Madison Keys at the Australian OpenImage source, Getty Images
  6. Eight years on...published at 13:30 Greenwich Mean Time

    Madison Keys is into her second Grand Slam final.

    She reached the 2017 US Open final but was beaten 6-3 6-0 by her then unseeded close friend Sloane Stephens.

    It was a match Keys was expected to win.

    She'll be the underdog on Saturday though.

  7. 'I feel I blacked out at one point' - Keyspublished at 13:27 Greenwich Mean Time

    Madison Keys on booking her spot in the final said during her on-court interview: "I’m still trying to catch up to everything that is happening, I’m in the finals. That match was such high level and she [Iga Swiatek] played so well and I just felt like I was fighting to stay in it.

    "I then ran with the second [set] and the third was just a battle and to be able to be standing here and be in the finals is absolutely amazing and I’m so excited that I get to be here on Saturday.”

    On the fight and determination throughout the match: "I feel like even though I lost the first set I was playing some better tennis at the end of it and that I had a little bit of momentum going into the second set. To be able to run with that second set and really just be able to settle was really nice.

    "In the third set it was so up and down and there were so many big points and break point chances that neither one of us got. I feel I blacked out at one point and I was just there running around so just to be able to stay in it and stay fighting, and then a ten-point tie-breaker for an extra dramatic finish."

    Madison Keys at the Australian OpenImage source, Getty Images
  8. Postpublished at 13:24 Greenwich Mean Time

    Thanks Jack. Iga Swiatek had match point on her serve at 6-5 in the decider.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:21 Greenwich Mean Time

    #bbctennis, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Fantastic for Maddie Keys but that is a tough pill to swallow for Swiatek. Dare I say that nerves got the better of her. Brilliant for Keys but I think Sabalenka wins the final comfortably

    Jack

  10. Postpublished at 13:18 Greenwich Mean Time

    Keys 5-7 6-1 7-6 (10-8) Swiatek

    On Saturday, Madison Keys will be trying to win her first Grand Slam title.

    Her opponent, Aryna Sabalenka, is targeting a three-peat of Australian Open titles.

    It's going to be some match.

  11. Postpublished at 13:16 Greenwich Mean Time

    Keys 5-7 6-1 7-6 (10-8) Swiatek

    Iga Swiatek gives the crowd a quick wave and then briskly walks off the court.

    Swiatek had only given up 14 games this tournament before today.

  12. Postpublished at 13:14 Greenwich Mean Time

    Keys 5-7 6-1 7-6 (10-8) Swiatek

    Pat Cash
    Former Wimbledon champion on BBC 5 Live and BBC Sounds

    Madison Keys has just beaten everyone who's come her way this tournament. That was not particularly a pretty match apart from a great second set.

    For her to hold her nerve was pretty impressive.

  13. Postpublished at 13:13 Greenwich Mean Time

    Keys 5-7 6-1 7-6 (10-8) Swiatek

    Madison Keys has her head buried in her towel.

    She has a peak at the stands to check if it's all real.

  14. game, set and match

    Game, set and match Keyspublished at 13:11 Greenwich Mean Time

    Keys 5-7 6-1 7-6 (10-8) Swiatek

    Iga Swiatek hits it long. Madison Keys is an Australian Open finalist.

    She drops to the floor. She can't believe it.

    She saved a match point.

  15. Match points Keyspublished at 13:10 Greenwich Mean Time

    Keys 5-7 6-1 6-6 (9-8) Swiatek*

    Another massive serve.

  16. Postpublished at 13:10 Greenwich Mean Time

    *Keys 5-7 6-1 6-6 (8-8) Swiatek

    Keys strikes back with an ace.

  17. Postpublished at 13:10 Greenwich Mean Time

    *Keys 5-7 6-1 6-6 (7-8) Swiatek

    Wow. Fantastic tennis as Iga Swiatek is left exposed at the net but guesses, lunges to her right, and intercepts a passing attempt with a volleyed winner.

  18. Postpublished at 13:09 Greenwich Mean Time

    Keys 5-7 6-1 6-6 (7-7) Swiatek*

    Madison Keys gets back level. Iga Swiatek can't finish off the point and eventually nets.

  19. Postpublished at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time

    Keys 5-7 6-1 6-6 (6-7) Swiatek*

    Another clutch, clean Keys winner. Backhand down the line.

  20. Postpublished at 13:07 Greenwich Mean Time

    *Keys 5-7 6-1 6-6 (5-7) Swiatek

    Swiatek does a great job staying in the next rally and benefits from another Keys error.

    She's been up all the way though this tie-break and is three points away at the latest change of ends.