Swiatek eliminates Navarro 6-1, 6-2 to reach Australian Open semis
Two versus eight to reach the final four. Iga Swiatek, the twenty-three-year-old from Poland was attempting to reach the semifinals at the Australian Open for the second time in her storied career.
In 2022, the five-time grand slam champion lost to American Danielle Collins in the penultimate round. Last year the former world #1 lost in the fourth round in straights to eventual finalist, Elena Rybakina.
Emma Navarro from the United States achieved a career-high rank of eight following a stellar 2024 season which included her first WTA title at the Hobart International. The Charleston native reached the third round last year (l.Yastremska) and progressed one round in each grand slam reaching the fourth at the French, the quarters at Wimbledon, and the semis at the US Open.
Swiatek currently ranked and seeded #2 had dropped just eleven games in four matches while Navarro has gone the distance every round. This was their first tour-level meeting. Navarro won the toss and elected to serve.
(AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Navarro donated two consecutive backhand errors, faced a triple break point, and dumped serve while Swiatek held easily to 15 to consolidate the break for 2-0.
The 8th seed made 4/6 first serves and held to 30 while the 2nd seed gifted three unforced errors including a double fault yet held for 3-1. Navarro opened the fourth with a netted forehand, faced three break points, and dropped serve with a netted backhand.
Swiatek was relentless off both wings and off the ground. The former world #1 ripped a backhand down the line to consolidate the break for 5-1. Navarro serving to stay in the set struck two winners but with her first double fault and four additional errors, conceded it 1-6.
Swiatek served first in the second and with new balls. She donated four unforced errors including her second double fault but held with two consecutive winners including her first ace.
Navarro opened with a fantastic forehand down the line and closed with a blistering backhand crosscourt for 1-1. Swiatek with an aggressive mindset seamlessly transitioned from defense to offense to confound her opponent. She made 2/4 first serves and held at love for 2-1 while Navarro struck two winners and held easily to 15 to level.
Swiatek missed 7/10 first serves, faced two deuce and a break point yet held with a remarkable crosscourt backhand pass. As it turns out, Navarro should have won the point; Swiatek did not retrieve the drop shot on one bounce as revealed on video review conducted by ESPN.
After the point, Navarro approached the chair who asserted she had to stop the point to request an official video review. Navarro should have been permitted to request a video review following the conclusion of the point given the pace of play.
The American missed 3/6 first serves and dumped serve with a netted forehand. Swiatek led 40-15, received a time violation warning, and faced two deuce points before consolidating the break for 5-2.
Navarro serving to stay in the match hit her first ace but following two deuce points, faced two match points, and capitulated with a mishit backhand. It was a high-quality and entertaining match despite the scoreline.
Swiatek who is 5-0 in major finals, won 82% of first and 48% of second serve points and saved the lone break point she faced. She was equally effective when returning winning 51% of first and 59% of second serve return points. The world #2 converted 5/9 break points and hit twenty-two winners to twenty unforced errors.
In the penultimate round, she will battle another American. Madison Keys the 19th seed and 2025 Adelaide champion, is red-hot down under. The twenty-nine-year-old from Rock Island, Illinois playing with a sense of urgency and burgeoning confidence, has reached the semifinals for the third time (2015 & 2022).
With a new stick and retooled serve, Keys dispatched three seeds: #28 Elina Svitolina, #6 Elena Rybakina, and #10, Danielle Collins. While Swiatek leads the head-to-head 4-1, they split the two on hardcourt.
