Iga Swiatek through to semi-final after comeback win over Kaia Kanepi, results, scores, video highlights
Polish youngster Iga Swiatek is through to her first Australian Open semi-final after a “crazy” comeback win over Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi.
Swiatek dropped the opening set before storming home in the final two sets to secure a 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 win at Rod Laver Arena.
The 20-year-old’s sensational performance was described by Australian tennis great Casey Dellacqua as “one of the most gritty wins I’ve ever seen”.
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“I’m pretty glad that I have my voice because I was shouting so loud,” Swiatek, the No.7 seed in the women’s draw, said after the win.
“This match was crazy and without the energy in the stadium it would be really hard to win it.”
This week’s semi-final will be the first time Swiatek has advanced to this stage of any Grand Slam tournament since winning Roland-Garros back in 2020.
Swiatek showed her trademark fighting instincts throughout the contest, including in the first set, where she saved a remarkable nine set points before eventually succumbing.
“Really? Ooh, that’s a lot,” Swiatek told Dellacqua when she was told about the set points saved.
“In the first set my mistake was that I had so many break points that I felt like I missed my chances.
“I think that was a mistake because I should’ve been focused on the future, on the next ball. In the second set I did exactly that.
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“She played so great. Even when it seemed like the ball was going out, it was suddenly going in.”
The win came despite some serving woes for the Pole, who recorded a career-high 12 double-faults in the match, easily beating her previous high of 10 in a Grand Slam.
Swiatek will now face American No.27 seed Danielle Collins in the semi-finals, while No.1 seed Ash Barty will face unseeded American Madison Keys in the other semi.
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