Australian Open: Keys does not need a major title to be satisfied

Australian Open semi-finalist Madison Keys does not need a grand slam trophy to be satisfied with her career achievements.

After overcoming Elina Svitolina on Wednesday, Keys will now take on world number two Iga Swiatek for a place in the final at Melbourne Park.

Since 2015, only Serena Williams (four) has reached more semi-finals at the Australian Open than Keys, who is into her third.

She lost both of her previous semi-finals, going down to Williams in 2015 and Ash Barty in 2022.

Keys has reached one grand slam final, which she lost to Sloane Stephens at the 2017 US Open, but the 29-year-old insists she does not require a major crown in order to be content.

"I'm getting to the point where I'm starting to appreciate my career for what it has been, and it doesn't have to have a grand slam in order for me to look at it and say I've done a really good job, and I've really left everything out there," she said.

"Now, while that's obviously still the goal, there have been periods of my career where it felt like if I didn't win one, then I hadn't done enough, and I didn't live up to my potential.

"I think that kind of took a lot of, I mean, it took a lot of the fun out of the game, and there were times where it felt paralysing out on the court because it felt as if I needed it to happen instead of giving myself the opportunity to go out and potentially do it."

3 - Since 2015, only Serena Williams (four) has now reached more Women’s Singles semi-finals at the Australian Open than Madison Keys (three, level with Aryna Sabalenka). Treble. #AO2025 | @AustralianOpen @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/O0vGvgHp71

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) January 22, 2025

Keys will be playing in her fifth grand slam semi-final, and the American is eager to lean on that experience when facing Swiatek, who has looked imperious in Melbourne.

She added: "I think now that I've been in this position a few times, I can definitely try to lean in on that.

"At this point, everyone has also won some really great matches, and we're all playing some really good tennis.

"This is really what they call the business end of the tournament. So, as much as you have experience in all of that, at the end of the day it's also you just have to go out and do your best and leave it all out there.

"I think as long as I can do that, no matter what happens, then I can walk away with my head held high."

Keys is on a 10-match winning streak, equalling her best such run, though Swiatek is yet to drop a set at this year's tournament.

Aryna Sabalenka will take on Paula Badosa in the other semi-final, with both matches taking place on Thursday.