MELBOURNE, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Iga Swiatek continued her dominant form at the Australian Open, charging into the semifinals after a commanding 6-1 6-2 victory over eighth-seeded Emma Navarro. The Polish player, ranked world number two, showcased her title ambitions at Melbourne Park, dropping only 14 games throughout the tournament so far, and she will face American Madison Keys next, who battled back to defeat Elina Svitolina 3-6 6-3 6-4.

Swiatek's quarterfinal triumph included a moment of controversy when she scooped up a seeming double-bounce drop shot early in the second set, a point that proved pivotal against Navarro. Despite the scoreline suggesting a one-sided match, Swiatek acknowledged that the contest was "much tougher than the score shows." Facing Keys, who she has a 4-1 record against but warns could prove formidable, Swiatek is poised for a tough semifinal.

Madison Keys celebrates her return to the Australian Open semifinals after a decade, demonstrating resilience against Svitolina. "I'm really proud of myself and really excited to play another semifinal here in Melbourne," said Keys, who emphasized that she had to become more aggressive and smarter in her play as she fought back to victory.

Keys, the 19th seed, has been in sensational form, winning her last 10 matches consecutively and lifting the Adelaide title just weeks ago. Yet, she is aware of the challenge that lies ahead: "I think Iga is tough to beat because she has a lot of spin kind of naturally on both sides... it’s really hard to ever really get ahead in a point," she noted.

Overall, Swiatek's journey through the Australian Open has been one of remarkable efficiency: she has not dropped a single game on serve in her past four matches, indicating a level of dominance rarely seen in the sport. Should Swiatek reach the final and top seed Sabalenka lose her semifinal, she would reclaim the world number one ranking.

As anticipation builds for this exciting semifinal clash, both players are now set to contest not only for a place in the final but also to define their respective seasons, with directions leaning towards rejuvenation and ambition.

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