Iga Swiatek rallies past Keys to reach Madrid Open semi-finals

Swiatek avenges Australian Open loss with comeback win in Madrid quarter-finals.

Iga Swiatek of Poland hits a backhand during her women’s singles quarter-final match against Madison Keys of the United States on day nine of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Mágica on April 30, 2025, in Madrid, Spain. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Iga Swiatek kept her Madrid Open title defence on track with a gritty comeback victory over Madison Keys in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, overturning a disastrous first set to triumph 0-6, 6-3, 6-2. The result not only avenged her shock loss to the American in the Australian Open earlier this year but also secured her a spot in a third straight semi-final at the tournament.

Iga Swiatek Madrid Open, plays a central role in the story of her 2024 campaign as she chases her first trophy of the season and seeks to extend her dominance on clay. The win also preserved her perfect 4-0 head-to-head record against Keys on clay surfaces.

A rough start and a familiar opponent

Coming into the match, the world number one was well aware of the challenge ahead. Keys had stunned her in the third round of the Australian Open, en route to winning her maiden Grand Slam title in Melbourne—a result that had left many questioning whether the American had finally figured out how to beat Swiatek’s typically impenetrable game. That question gained traction early on Wednesday when Keys handed Swiatek a rare 6-0 defeat in the opening set.

"It was one of the weirdest matches I’ve ever played," Swiatek admitted after the match. "Madi was playing perfectly at the beginning. I just tried to stay in it, play a bit shorter, put the ball in, and eventually things started turning."

Swiatek resets, finds rhythm

The Madrid Open crowd watched in disbelief as Swiatek made a string of unforced errors in the first set. A loose forehand into an open court at 0-5 summed up her sluggish start. Swiatek, who was contesting her 17th straight quarter-final on clay, took a toilet break at the end of the set to gather herself—and it worked.

When she returned, she looked like a different player. She broke Keys early and built a commanding 5-1 lead in the second set. Although Keys managed to claw one break back, reducing the deficit to 3-5, Swiatek held her nerve and served out the set in the ninth game to level the match.

"It didn't feel good getting bageled, but at least it’s over quickly," Swiatek joked, referencing the first set. "The key was not to panic and stick to my game."

Deciding set swings in Swiatek’s favor

By the time the third set began, both players were performing at a higher level, trading powerful baseline shots and pushing each other deep into rallies. But it was Swiatek who drew first blood, breaking for a 3-2 lead. She maintained her momentum with another break in game seven, sealing the win after two hours and 14 minutes of intense play.

At 23, Swiatek is no stranger to bouncing back from adversity. The five-time Grand Slam champion has made a habit of dishing out 6-0 sets to her opponents—making it all the more surprising to see her on the receiving end of one. But her response proved once again why she's considered one of the fiercest competitors on the tour.

What’s next for Swiatek?

The defending champion will face either Coco Gauff or teenage prodigy Mirra Andreeva in the semi-finals. Both present unique challenges—Gauff with her relentless athleticism and Andreeva with her fearless shot-making and rise through the ranks.

With her title defence alive and momentum on her side, Swiatek will aim to add another clay-court title to her growing legacy. Having won the French Open three times, she’s widely seen as the current queen of clay, and her performance in Madrid will be a key indicator ahead of Roland Garros.

Arnaldi stuns again as Djokovic exit opens up the draw

Elsewhere on the red clay of Madrid, Italian Matteo Arnaldi continued his dream run by defeating 16th seed Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 7-5 to book a place in the quarter-finals. It marked the first time the world number 44 has secured multiple top-20 wins at a single tournament, following his earlier upset of Novak Djokovic.

Arnaldi’s fearless baseline hitting and consistency have made him one of the breakout players of the event. He will next face either Britain’s Jack Draper or American Tommy Paul for a chance to reach the final four.

With Djokovic out and Carlos Alcaraz still finding form after an injury layoff, the men’s draw in Madrid is suddenly wide open. Arnaldi’s rise adds an unexpected twist to the tournament narrative and injects fresh excitement into the clay-court season.

A clay-court season heating up

The Madrid Open continues to deliver drama and surprises. For Swiatek, her quarter-final performance was a critical test of resilience, and she passed with flying colors. As she prepares for a potentially difficult semi-final, she’ll take comfort in knowing she can recover from tough starts and still find a path to victory.

With Roland Garros looming, every match on clay is a stepping stone. For now, Iga Swiatek Madrid Open remains the focus, and if Wednesday's turnaround is any indication, the Polish star is just warming up.