"Iga Swiatek didn't just crumble under pressure, she evaporated" - Fans react to Pole's deflating Australian Open SF loss to Madison Keys

Former World No. 1 Iga Swiatek's 2025 Australian Open run was cut short by Madison Keys in dramatic fashion in the semifinals of the hardcourt Major. Unsurprisingly, the result prompted scores of tennis fans to pour in with their reactions.

Swiatek hadn't lost a set at the 2025 Australian Open prior to her semifinal showdown against Keys. The Pole, the overwhelming favorite on paper, won the first set 7-5 and put herself in a commanding position to reach the final. However, the American bounced back in stunning fashion as she registered a dominant 6-1 second-set win.

Things went right down to the wire in the third and decisive set, where Madison Keys first saved a match point and then went on to edge Iga Swiatek 7-6(8) after a tense tiebreak. Surprisingly, the Pole was uncharacteristically erratic in the moments that mattered most, while the American held her nerve.

Several fans reacted to Iga Swiatek failing to win the pressure points during the contest, which ultimately led to her downfall.

"Iga didn’t just crumble when pressure came, she evaporated into thin air," a fan wrote.

"Great win for keys. maybe a bit of a reality check. Swiatek's draw was laughably bad so all these people making so much noise about how dominant she looked. She ran into someone who could hang with her today and thankfully Madison put an end to that run. Should be a great final," commented another.

"Iga doesn’t like it when an opponent can stay with her off the ground," another chimed in.

There were others who ridiculed the Pole over her perceived gamesmanship following her return from a toilet break before the start of the third set. After she came back to the Rod Laver Arena court, Swiatek delayed Keys' serve not once, but twice. Initially, as the American began to ready her serve, the Pole was sprinting and shadow swinging. Once she did get into position for facing Keys' serve, she held her racket up and caused a second delay.

"Thank heavens the toilet break gamesmanship from Iga didn’t work. Great comeback Maddy Tennis rejoices," wrote one fan.

"Lmfaoooooooooooooo Iga on some bulls**t lately man," another added.

"Swiatek without doping is so finished lets go Keys," weighed in another fan, taking a swipe at the Pole over her doping saga.

In her post-match interview, Keys reflected on her hard-fought win over Swiatek.

"It was just so up and down" - Madison Keys on Australian Open SF victory against Iga Swiatek

Madison Keys (left) and Iga Swiatek (right) after their 2025 Australian Open semifinal (Source: Getty)

Madison Keys shared an honest assessment of how her semifinal clash against Iga Swiatek at the 2025 Australian Open played out. In her post-match, on-court interview, the 2017 US Open runner-up said:

"Even though I lost the first set, I felt like I was playing some better tennis at the end of it. I felt like I actually had a little bit of momentum going into the second set. To be able to kind of run with that second set really just kind of be able to settle was really nice."

"In the third set, it was just so up and down and there were so many points and break point chances that neither one of us got. I felt like I blacked out at some point and she was out there running around," Keys added.

Keys will lock horns with reigning World No. 1 and two-time defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in the final on Saturday, January 25.