Trying to reach her first Australian Open final, Swiatek steadied the ship to break back again and then won the next three games to lead 5-2. Keys was doing damage with her returns, though, and she broke back again when Swiatek missed a forehand for 5-4.

Serving to stay in the set, Keys missed a sitter of a bounce smash from almost on top of the net, but recovered well to hold for 5-5 only for Swiatek to then cut out the errors, holding serve and then breaking to win the set thanks to a good return.

That might have been the catalyst for Swiatek to pull away, but Keys had other ideas. Cutting loose on returns, she blasted winner after winner, breaking twice to lead 3-0 as Swiatek’s groundstrokes went awry.

Keys hit three straight aces in her next service game, broke Swiatek again for 5-0 and though the No.2 seed avoided a 0-6 set by breaking, Keys maintained her aggression and was rewarded with yet another break to seal the set.