After a practically perfect run and with a one-set advantage over Madison Keys, former WTA No.1 Iga Swiatek had already anticipated the possibility of facing Aryna Sabalenka in the final of the Australian Open 2025, but fate decided otherwise for her.
The Polish player was sensationally overtaken by the 29-year-old American, who won the third-set supertiebreak with a score of 5-7 6-1 7-6(8), reaching the second Slam final of her career eight years after the one at the 2017 US Open, lost to Sloane Stephens.
At the press conference, the world number 2 in the WTA ranking expressed her disappointment at having seen a goal that seemed within her reach vanish.
“It’s hard to say because it was a matter of one or two balls. It was a long match, so there were many changes of pace and many different moments. I think Madison was brave in her decisions in the end and she crushed me when she needed to. I would say that I wasn’t as free as in the previous matches to push in the important moments. I stopped moving, so there’s no way to win the match when you don’t move,” analyzed the Pole.
Swiatek and Keys© X / Twitter
The 5-time Grand Slam champion then looked back on her start to the season, explaining: “It’s difficult to talk about it now, but overall it’s been very positive. As a person I felt a little bit better than in previous years. The United Cup always brings positive emotions, but here I always felt tense.
This year was different. That gives me a positive feeling for the rest of the season. Obviously I wanted more. I’ve already played a semi-final and I wanted to win this one, but I think if I continue to work hard, I’ll have more opportunities in the future and maybe I’ll take them, like I didn’t take my match point today.”
Iga then shared with journalists in the press room at Melbourne Park all the disappointment of not having reached the Happy Slam final.
“I felt like I had my chance, I didn’t know what would happen in the future. Maybe I’ll have other opportunities. I think I’m pretty used to always taking advantage of my chances. When I have a chance to win, I always do it. So it’s disappointing when it doesn’t happen, but that’s sports, things don’t always go my way. Madison also did the job she had to do and she absolutely deserves to be in the final,” she explained.
Tennis World USA