Madison Keys could only laugh at her glaring miss during her Australian Open semi vs Iga Swiatek (Image: x/Eurosport)
Madison Keys was left laughing in disbelief after her own glaring miss during her semi-final against .
The American, competing in her third semi-final in Melbourne, knew that every shot would be crucial if she was to get the better of the world No. 2.
But when the moment arrived for the 29-year-old to begin her fightback in the first set, Keys fluffed her lines with a glaring miss as she attempted a smash at the net.
Having trailed 5-2 early on, Keys found some momentum to break back and haul herself back into contention at 4-5 down, armed with two break points.
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But when she was presented with golden opportunity to smash home a high bouncing ball from the net, she somehow failed to convert the break.
Keys smashed the ball into the net while only stood a foot or two away from it and with the court wide open, and her apparent disbelief caused her to fall into a fit of laughter.
Having worked tirelessly to peg back Swiatek, she did eventually get back on level terms to level the set at 5-5.
But the Pole held her nerve to grab another break and served it out this time to lead 7-5, putting her one set away from Saturday’s final at the Rod Laver Arena.
Madison Keys somehow missed a straightforward smash at the net (Image: X/Eurosport)
Keys, meanwhile, had it all to do to avoid an agonising third defeat in the last four.
It’s fair to argue her miss would’ve some psychological damage to her confidence – especially at the net. Instead, it only made her more determined to atone for her errors.
The 13th seed came storming out of the blocks in the second set, racing into a 5-0 lead after going up a double break.
Swiatek avoided the bagel though, taking back one of those breaks. It only delayed what would be an intriguing finale as Keys forced the decider by winning the second set 6-1.
Madison Keys fought back to the win the second set (Image: Getty)
Keys is one of the most experienced players left on the WTA Tour and has won nine titles in her career.
However, despite making it to six Grand Slam semi-finals and the US Open final in 2017, she has never won a Major after losing to Sloane Stephens at Flushing Meadows.
Her journey to the last four in Melbourne will at least guarantee her a spot in the top 10 of the WTA rankings for the first time since January 2023.
She had been 14th in the world heading into the tournament, but Keys’ performances serve as a reminder that even if she is beaten by Swiatek, she remains one of the top players in the women’s game.