MELBOURNE, Jan 22 - Iga Swiatek showcased her formidable talent by reaching the Australian Open semi-finals with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over eighth seed Emma Navarro. Swiatek's overwhelming performance continued to solidify her spot as a top contender, having now lost only 14 games throughout the tournament, the fewest games conceded in a semi-final run since Maria Sharapova in 2013. This latest win underscores her dominance on hard courts, shifting the narrative after previous struggles in Melbourne, London, and New York.

Earlier, Madison Keys staged a comeback after dropping the first set to Elina Svitolina, ultimately winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. This victory marks Keys' third Australian Open semi-final appearance, ten years after her last in 2015. Expressing pride in her achievements, Keys emphasized her growth as a player, now on a ten-match winning streak following her Adelaide Open title just weeks prior.

The match between Swiatek and Navarro included a controversial moment when Swiatek appeared to scoop a drop shot that many observers believed had double-bounced. After winning the point, Navarro protested the decision, but her continuation of play prevented any video review from taking place. Swiatek, although recognizing the challenge posed by Navarro, reflected on her performance, stating, “I think it was much tougher than the score shows,” as she prepares for the challenge presented by Keys.

Despite Swiatek's impressive history against Keys—holding a 4-1 record—the upcoming match is expected to be tightly contested. In her earlier matches against Keys, the American athlete had significant success but acknowledged the difficulty of competing against such a well-rounded opponent, saying, “I think Iga is tough to beat because she has a lot of spin... she moves incredibly well.” With both players in peak form, tennis fans eagerly await what promises to be an electrifying semi-final clash.

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