Madison Keys got off to a strong start to the 2025 season, recovering from a set down to beat 27th seed Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to return to the Australian Open semifinals.
After struggling in the second half of the 2024 season with injury forcing her to withdraw from the fourth round of Wimbledon, Keys has started the year at an unusual level, currently on a 10-game winning streak after winning the Adelaide Open. The title is 11 days ago. Her previous accomplishments include six top-20 wins and two top-30 wins.
Keys' win also marks her first career Grand Slam semi-final appearance at the 2015 Australian Open, her seventh Grand Slam semi-final since returning to the stage in 2022, and her third Grand Slam semi-final in Melbourne. It will be an advance. Her best Grand Slam performance was recorded in 2017. She reached the US Open final, but lost to her close friend Sloane Stephens.
“I definitely think I’m playing a little bit smarter, maybe a little less fearless,” Keyes said of his growth over the past decade. “I’m really proud to be here 10 years later in the semi-finals again and I’m really excited to be playing in the semi-finals again in Melbourne.”
Svitolina started the match in great fashion, absorbing her pace from the 19th seed Keys, maintaining good depth and looking for attacking opportunities, putting her under constant pressure. But Keys is one of the greatest ball-strikers in the history of the sport, and once he's in full flow, he's extremely difficult to stop. After finding a rhythm with his serve, Keys began to gradually dominate the baseline exchanges with controlled, destructive balls from both wings. She finished her performance in style with 49 winners.
“I felt like I had to start playing a little more aggressive and try to get to the net a little faster,” Keyes said. “She was controlling a lot of points and making me run. I felt like I needed to grab the advantage a little earlier. Luckily, I was able to do that.”
Keys, aiming to reach her second Grand Slam final, will next face the winner of compatriot Emma Navarro and second-seeded Iga Swiatek in the women's quarterfinals.
“I'm really looking forward to seeing Emma and Ben.” [Shelton] See you later today. ” Keyes said. “I think Emma and Iga will be a very competitive match. Emma has been in a marathon match for the life and death of me. I'm going to try to recover my nerves and make a life-or-death match.” I hope we don't have another marathon and I'm looking forward to seeing Ben compete again. It's a really great group of Americans.”
