WATCH: Iga Swiatek bluntly shuts down journalist at Australian Open after question about how SF loss & missing World No. 1 chance 'hurt' her

Iga Swiatek was upset by the 19th-seed Madison Keys in a nail-biter in the semifinals of the Australian Open. The Pole was eliminated from the tournament after losing 7-5, 1-6, 6-7(8).

During her post-match press conference, Swiatek, while talking about her loss, was asked by an interviewer if she was feeling hurt after missing the match point and her chance to become the World No. 1.

"You have to experience that to know," responded Swiatek.

Out of the five previous meetings between the two players, Keys had won only one, losing the other four in straight sets to the Pole. Swiatek had the opportunity to extend that run but wasn't able to convert her match point. In the super tiebreaker, the American found her best serves to win the match after a grueling 2 hours and 35 minutes.

The loss in her second Australian Open semifinal ensures that Aryna Sabalenka, the current World No. 1, will retain her ranking. The Pole had previously lost in a similar position in 2022 to another American, Danielle Collins.

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"I wasn't feeling as free"- Iga Swiatek on her AO 25 semifinal heartbreak

Iga Swiatek during a point at the semifinals of AO 25 - Source: Getty

Iga Swiatek has been showered with support and applauded by fans for giving a tough battle to Madison Keys in the semifinals. She reflected on her loss and made her feelings about the match known during her post-match press conference.

"It was a matter of, you know, one or two balls. So what made the difference was like, this match was long, so it had many different changes of momentum and many different moments that I could describe. But I guess at the end, you know, Madison was kind of brave with her decisions, and she pushed me when she needed," said Swiatek after her defeat.

She also shed light on how she missed certain opportunities to capitalize on her opponent, by playing some lofty shots and not building up on her serves.

"I think, you know, if I keep working hard, I'll have more chances in the future, and maybe I'll use them as I didn't use my match point today," she added.

After a great show of tennis by the duo, Keys saved a critical match point against Swiatek to advance to her second Grand Slam final after eight years. Swiatek will hope to come back stronger at the upcoming majors.