The most difficulty Iga Swiatek might have had at Australian Open 2025 on Monday night was remembering her age.
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“I’m still, what, 23,” Swiatek said in her on-court interview at Rod Laver Arena, pausing before the number eventually came to her. “There’s a lot to improve, always.”
That approach is one of the reasons the Pole is already a five-time Grand Slam winner.
After beating lucky loser Eva Lys 6-0 6-1 in hot and muggy Melbourne to set up a meeting with Emma Navarro, she moved one round closer to a maiden Australian Open final.
Navarro beat Daria Kasatkina in a completely different way, 6-4 5-7 7-5 in two hours, 40 minutes at John Cain Arena in an outing that started well before Swiatek’s and ended well after it.
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Swiatek’s 11 games conceded through four rounds marks her fewest at a major excluding retirements, bettering her previous mark set at her stronghold of the French Open.
“I usually didn’t feel comfortable at the Australian Open with my game, but this year it’s a bit better so I’m just enjoying being on the court and off the court, as well,” she said.
“Hopefully it’s going to last even longer.”
The No.2 seed behind Aryna Sabalenka dealt with physical issues 12 months ago and a tough draw that culminated in a third-round exit against Linda Noskova.
The habitually quicker conditions at the year’s opening major also present a challenge.
But she gave Lys – bidding to become the first women’s lucky loser to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal in the Open Era – little opportunity.
Lys manufacturing two break points in the first game suggested a battle loomed. On the second one, the No.128 ranked German only just sent her backhand down the line long.
Swiatek surged, driving her heavy forehand and blistering passing shots low to the feet. It didn’t stop Lys from smiling throughout, however.
She had booked her flight home for Sunday but was happy to reschedule given her unexpected, career-altering twist in Melbourne.
Loud cheers came when Lys earned her lone game for 1-3 in the second but on the next point, Swiatek crushed several forehands to edge a 17-shot rally.
Lys almost sent Swiatek into the stands later in the set with stunning angled crosscourt backhands, but those sort of points for the 23-year-old proved fleeting.
Still, she leaves Melbourne knowing a top 100 spot is guaranteed in the rankings for the first time.
Navarro, like Kasatkina, is no stranger to playing for hours. But Navarro usually wins those three-setters, which she said this week she truly enjoys playing.
She must then be having a blast in Melbourne.
All four of her wins went to a deciding set, with the No.8 seed from the US looking in trouble when she trailed Peyton Stearns 5-3 in the third and Wang Xiyu 4-2 in the third.
Kasatkina led by a break 3-2 in the third on Monday prior to the US Open semifinalist engineering another comeback.
She drew inspiration from the Bee Gees.
“They played that song, ‘Staying Alive,’ at 5-4 in the third set and I kind of felt like that was really appropriate,” she said on court. “This whole tournament, I’ve just been staying alive and hoping to continue on that train.”
“I guess I’m finding my form a little bit. The longer I stay out here, the better I feel out on court.
“Trying to use it to my advantage as much as possible. I appreciate you guys staying out here for a lot of sets this tournament.”
Navarro almost didn’t need to go three sets, though.
She held three match points at 5-4 in the second set, which were chalked off via a return miscue and a pair of gutsy winners from the No.9 seed.
Navarro regrouped.
Not surprising given how well the pair move, they raced everywhere in numerous – extended – rallies in the demanding conditions.
Right near the end, they managed to produce a 27-shot epic.
Kasatkina, despite the defeat, saved 16 of 25 break points in their first meeting.
Navarro needed five set points to clinch the first and Kasatkina hung tough to level at 4-4 in the third, fending off seven break points.
A game away from a match tiebreak, Navarro broke as Kasatkina’s 30-0 lead vanished.
Swiatek beat Navarro in their lone previous head-to-head, in 2018 in the city where the American grew up, Charleston.
Both ranked outside the top 400 at the time, they have climbed since.