Iga Swiatek’s superlative level of tennis is conveying an ominous message to her three remaining rivals at Australian Open 2025: Bring it on.
The Pole's dominant display against eighth seed Emma Navarro to reach her second semifinal at Melbourne Park underscored exactly why she’s considered a favourite to add an AO crown to her four Roland Garros titles and US Open trophy.
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Swiatek dismantled the American 6-1 6-3 in 1 hour and 29 minutes, her longest match of the tournament so far.
Somewhat worryingly for her peers - all whom have dropped at least one set - Swiatek conceded just 14 games in her first five matches, the fewest since Maria Sharapova dropped just nine games en route to the AO 2013 semis.
Swiatek and Navarro – born just 13 days apart – charted contrasting paths to the quarters: the Pole lost 11 games in her first four matches, amassing a total of four hours and 30 minutes on court. In her second AO, Navarro spent 10 hours and 14 minutes on court battling through three sets in all of her first four matches, becoming the first player to do so since Jelena Dokic in 2009.
Swiatek, whose racquet swinging during the coin toss is reminiscent of her idol Rafael Nadal, broke Navarro to love in the opening game with a clinical backhand cross-court winner.
Under relentless pressure from the former world No.1, the American conceded another break by slamming a backhand into the net post, earning her rival a 4-1 advantage.
Serving to stay in the opener, Navarro saved a set point with a perfectly placed body serve before mis-hitting a backhand to hand Swiatek the set.
In the fifth game of the second, Navarro manufactured her first and only break point of the match, but struck a forehand a fraction too late, leading it to fly wide. Moments later, Swiatek held after chasing down a well-placed drop shot from Navarro, although replays of the point suggested Navarro should have halted play to request an electronic review because it bounced twice.
Ever focused, the world No.2 broke the American and although she was twice pushed to deuce, held to consolidate for a 5-2 lead. Drilling a pair of forehand winners to set up match points, Swiatek converted her second when Navarro pushed a cross-court backhand wide.
Swiatek asserted control of the match by winning 82 per cent of first serve points and 31 return points, almost double Navarro’s 16. Those statistics will no doubt be pleasing to her new coach Wim Fissette, who has worked with Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber and Kim Clijsters.
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With Wednesday’s triumph, Swiatek is the youngest player to reach at least seven major semifinals since Sharapova in 2008.
And though the Warsaw-born righthander is perhaps most at home on clay, she’s also a force on hard courts. Swiatek has won 12 of her 22 tour-level titles on the surface, most recently at Indian Wells last year.
Awaiting the world No.2 in Thursday night’s semifinal is 19th seed Madison Keys, whom Swiatek has defeated in four of their five meetings.
Swiatek recognises that the 29-year-old’s power can be dangerous, especially on hard courts.
“She likes to also play intense and pretty fast … I need to be ready for that and be proactive and also good in defence.”
One thing’s for sure: whether Swiatek is leading or trailing during that battle, expect her demeanour to be the same.
“Just focusing on myself and having the same kind of attitude no matter what the score is, is important,” mused the second seed, who is eager to add a second hard court major to her resume.
“Being in the semis is great, so I’ll push for more."