Sabalenka keeps No. 1 ranking as Swiatek upset by Keys

Aryna Sabalenka will remain world No. 1 after rival Iga Swiatek lost a dramatic semi-final at the Australian Open to Madison Keys, a struggle which ended early Friday morning.

Keys will play her second Grand Slam final after the US Open, 2017 when she takes on Sabalenka after defeating Swiatek 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (10-8).

Top seed Sabalenka, winner of the last two Melbourne editions, blew past best friend Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2.

Keys saved a match point in the third set of her drama-filled semi as Swiatek hit the net in the 12th game, then double-faulted to bring on the 10-point deciding tiebreaker.

The American converted on her first match point from a Swiatek forehand to the net after more than two and a half hours.

“The match was (played at) such a high-level, she played so well,” the winner said. “I was fighting to stay in it. The third set was really a battle.”

Keys said that after losing the first set, she steadied in the second as she won it to square the contest.

“I was playing better tennis at the end and had some momentum going. I just stayed in it and kept fighting.

“To be in the final is absolutely amazing, I’m so excited. We  were both battling some nerves at the end. 

“It became who can win that last point.”

Sabalenka has beaten Keys in four of their five matches, the last played in Beijing in October.