"I blacked out at some point" - Madison Keys gets real after overcoming Iga Swiatek in Australian Open SF thriller

Madison Keys has reached another major milestone in her career by making it to the 2025 Australian Open final. However, the journey wasn't easy, as she admitted to feeling like she blacked out during her semifinal match against Iga Swiatek.

Keys enjoyed a fairytale run in Melbourne, entering the tournament with great confidence after winning the Adelaide International. She began her campaign with a commanding victory over compatriot Ann Li, followed by wins against Elena-Gabriela Ruse, Danielle Collins, former finalist Elena Rybakina, and Elina Svitolina, before setting up a clash with Swiatek.

On Thursday, January 23, the American faced the Pole and secured a hard-fought victory in two hours and 35 minutes, winning 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (8). The former World No. 1 struggled to find her rhythm throughout the match.

Later, Madison Keys shared during her on-court interview that despite losing the first set, she felt very confident heading into the second, adding:

"Even though I lost the first set, I felt like I was playing some better tennis at the end of it. I felt like I actually had a little bit of momentum going into the second set. To be able to kind of run with that second set really just kind of be able to settle was really nice. In the third set, it was just so up and down and there were so many points and break point chances that neither one of us got."

The No. 19 seed added:

"I felt like I blacked out at some point and she was out there running around."

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Pritha is one of the driving forces behind Sportskeeda's tennis & baseball coverage, serving as an assistant content manager and editor. What began as a casual escape from her tiring biotechnology degree course in early 2022 has blossomed into a passion she loves, cherishes, and breathes every day.

Pritha’s love for the sport was spawned by her dad who showed her clips of "GOAT" Steffi Graf’s matches. Despite a thwarted dream of playing professionally due to injury, she finds solace in reporting the sport, while also mentoring other writers to ensure every article is error-free and top-notch. She double checks credible sources, such as the tournament/player handles and big tennis media outlets, and gives proper credit where required.

Pritha's journey at Sportskeeda is marked by nearly 2000 articles and close to 12 million views, with the "dream-come-true" moment of having her article shared by Chris Evert serving as a highlight of her career. A lifelong Wimbledon fan, Pritha also adores Rafael Nadal, Elena Rybakina, and Naomi Osaka.

When she's not seeking unique angles to elevate tennis coverage at Sportskeeda, she loves to channel her inner astrophysics "nerd" by exploring new sci-fi series and movies. A big Lionel Messi, Lewis Hamilton, and Randy Orton fan, she is always ready to engage in sports conversations anytime, anywhere, albeit not without a cup of coffee.

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Edited by Pritha Ghosh