It will be the world No.1 and the American comeback Queen going for glory on Saturday at Melbourne Park.
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFT128 competitors have been whittled down to the final two in the women's singles draw at Australian Open 2025.
Two-time defending champion Sabalenka now has the chance to achieve the first women's three-peat in Melbourne since Martina Hingis in 1999. Keys, into her second Grand Slam final after US Open 2017 heartbreak, is seeking a maiden major at the weekend.
Two of the biggest hitters on Tour, it's going to be some final!
Crouched down, bent over with arms resting on her racket, Madison Keys couldn't quite believe what she had just achieved.
On Thursday, into Friday morning Melbourne time, the American served up some Melbourne magic by staving off match point in an enthralling 5-7, 6-1, 7-6[10-8] triumph over No.2 seed Iga Swiatek.
"That match was as was such high level and she played so well and I felt like I was just fighting to stay in it and then obviously really kind of ran with the second and then the third was just a battle," said an elated Keys, unsure whether she faced a match point.
"I blacked out at some point now I was just out there running around so just to be able to stay in it and just keep fighting and then 10 point tie-breaker for an extra dramatic finish.
"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."
Swiatek, also targeting a first final at Melbourne Park, accelerated 5-2 up and held a set point. By this time Keys was finding her range on missile groundstrokes, building momentum to crush the second set.
From 3-3 in the decider, the rallies, the bruising shot-making, this match went up several notches as the chances came and went for both exceptional athletes.
Serving second down the home stretch, world No.2 Swiatek kept coming up with answers and scooped a forehand pass down the line for a telling 6-5 break. The five-time major winner served for the final ticket, but Keys wouldn't back down and yet another cannonball return erased match point.
An untimely double fault gifted Keys the chance to extend this riveting rollercoaster into a match super tiebreak.
Again, Swiatek went ahead, opening up a 7-5 cushion, again the world No.14 stuck to her guns with bold, tenacious play. Two monstrous serves chalked up her own match point and moments later the 29-year-old had earned a second major final.
'Oh my god', Keys scribbled onto the courtside broadcast camera, it was that kind of match.
Sabalenka is 4-1 up in their head-to-head and is 11-0 in 2025, but Adelaide International champion Keys is also 13-1 this season. Something has to give.
"Definitely some big-hitting. I think that's going to happen, not a whole lot of long points," quipped Keys. "She's obviously going for her third Aussie Open and I'm excited to get to play her and I'm really excited for the challenge and I don't know how. Saturday is very far away in my brain right now!"
An imposing performance from top seed Aryna Sabalenka defeated close friend Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2 to draw up an astonishing 20th successive Australian Open victory.
So confident and assured on the major stage, the 26-year-old has now reached the final at the last five hard court Grand Slams.
Badosa, featuring in her maiden major semi-final, raced 2-0 ahead with exemplary movement, until Sabalenka turned up the heat with two crunching return winners to break back in a grueling eight-minute game.
“Honestly I have no idea. I was just trying to build for the next games, I wasn’t thinking about winning that game and then somehow I was able to turn it in that crucial game I would say," recalled the world No.1.
"After Love-2, Love-40, I'd rate that I played really great tennis. I played incredible match, I think. It was a super tough match against a friend, I’m super happy for her to see her at her highest level and it was a battle, but I’m happy to be through this difficult match.
"I'm going to go out and give everything I have in the final."
A dinked backhand drop shot, a 138 km/h cross court forehand and Sabalenka was tightening her grip on the contest. Another lengthy service game for Badosa at 11 minutes and another break for Sabalenka with ferocious hitting for a 4-2 lead.
The reigning champion kept attacking the space, her combination of power and control was too hot to handle for world No.12 Badosa. Two successive double faults from the Spaniard at 1-1 in the second set and Sabalenka was roaring towards Saturday's silverware showdown.
In doing so, the three-time Grand Slam winner becomes the first woman to book three finals in a row at Melbourne Park since Serena Williams in 2015-17.
"That's crazy that I was able to put myself in the situation where I have chance to put my name next to the legends. I couldn't even dream about that. It's going to mean a lot for me," said Sabalenka, hoping to become just the sixth woman to achieve a three-peat Down Under.
"I feel like I'm coming home to my home slam… I feel like people screaming my name, they support me. I have goose bumps every time they scream, 'Let's go Aryna.' It's incredible to feel that support here."
ROLAND-GARROS
19 May - 8 June 2025
