Madison Keys has started so strong here, breaking Iga Swiatek’s first service game.

Keys started off the match with a very strong winner from the net.

Swiatek then double faulted. 30-0

Another two unforced errors saw Keys take the game and the early lead.

Swiatek has not dropped a game on serve since the opening round, until now.

It’s time for the second semifinal of the night now!

Madison Keys and Iga Świątek are out on Rod Laver Arena ahead of their battle.

It’s the Pole who will serve first.

Next up on RLA we have 19th-seed Madison Keys taking on the world number two Iga Świątek.

The American has impressed throughout the tournament, knocking out three higher seeds — Danielle Collins, Elena Rybakina and Evina Svitolina.

Świątek has been also at her best. The Pole has sailed into the semifinals without dropping a set and hasn’t had a match last more than 90 minutes.

Keys will be hoping to improve her standing in the head to head though.

Currently Świątek has won four of their five previous encounters.

Keys has more experience in this match than her opponent though, this is her third semifinal at the Australian Open.

For Świątek, this is her second at Melbourne Park.

Neither have made the final, so there will be a first for someone tonight.

In 2023, Aryna Sabalenka won her first major title when she beat Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Last year, she rolled China’s Qinwen Zheng 6-3, 6-2.

This year, she’ll try to become the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1997-99 to win three in a row.

But who will be on the other side of the net on Saturday night?

We’re about to find out.

The world number one and two-time defending champion has a warm embrace with her good mate Paula Badosa at the net after a complete demolition.

Badosa through everything at Sabalenka and in brief windows showed she had the game to potentially go with her, but ultimately it ends in a 6-4, 6-2 in under an hour and a half.

“That was a super tough match against a friend. It was a tough battle and I’m super happy to be through.”

The cameras show a miserable Badosa in the dressing room.

“I hope she’s still my friend. I’m sure she’ll hate me for the next hour or day or two and after that we’re back to being friends.

“I promise if we go shopping I’ll pay for whatever shit she wants.”

Paula Badosa throws up some prayer hands at the change of ends.

But they’re not answered as Sabalenka tears to 30-0 with pure power.

Badosa, once again, can only life and give a half-sarcastic thumbs-up to the crowd as they try to give her advice.

It’s 40-0 as Badosa misses a furious swing at a return.

Can the 11th seed at least force Aryna Sabalenka to serve it out?

Badosa is still coming up with some shots, ripping a bullet of a backhand across court to move to 30-15.

And she comes up with a spinning, kicking serve up the middle that Sabalenka can’t get back.

Badosa throws her hands to the sky as she wins her first game since the opener of this set.

If you can’t laugh, you’d cry.

Badosa holds for 2-5.

Badosa rips her first forehand winner since 4-2 in the first set as she finally gets a look at a short ball.

And she fights back to deuce from 40-15 down.

A brilliant running backhand winner up the line saves a game point. Badosa is still taking any opportunity she gets. She just isn’t getting very many.

And Sabalenka eventually forces the error to move within one game of another Australian Open final.

Sabalenka holds for 5-1.

Paula Badosa gets herself to 40-30 with a series of brutal forehands that land just about on the baseline, eventually forcing the error from Sabalenka.

“When you’re having to work that hard, especially on your serve, it’s so tough,” Jelena Dokic says on Nine.

And Sabalenka breaks again, just demolishing forehand winners. She’s too powerful and accurate. In full flight now.

Badosa just looks into the stands, desperately searching for answers as another ball races past her. I’m not sure those answers are coming. It feels a bit de Minaur vs Sinner out there right now.

Sabalenka breaks for a 4-1 lead.

Badosa isn’t doing a whole lot wrong. Even when she gets good depth on her returns, Sabalenka is still sending them back with interest.

Badosa gets a look at a second serve and tries to nail a return winner up the line, but she can’t control the forehand. 30-15

Just clinical from Sabalenka, again refusing to be pushed off the baseline and ripping a backhand winner. 40-15

Pure power from Sabalenka pushes Badosa back towards the crowd and the Belrusian seals the game with an easy drop shot.

Sabalenka holds for a 3-1 lead.

As if she wasn’t already up against it enough, Paula Badosa is now down a break at 2-1 in the second set.

And she gives it up with consecutive double faults.

Not ideal when you’re already down a set and struggling to hold serve.

The crowd, and the players can’t help but laugh as Badosa stacks it while trying to get into position to hit a forehand.

She makes sure to give her mate a thumbs-up while still on the ground.

Looks like nothing but a little bit of pride hurt in that fall.

That opening set lasted 53 minutes, so it was no cake walk, but Sabalenka hit her stride midway through the set and never looked back.

The world number one hit 19 winners to just six for Paula Badosa, who’s hanging on, rather than dictating, in almost every point.

Badosa has only hit nine unforced errors, but just isn’t troubling Sabalenka in baseline rallies, nor landing her first serve often enough to take control early in points.

Aryna Sabalenka is landing her first serve and it’s making life difficult for Paula Badosa. The Belarusian is stepping in behind it and races to a 30-0 lead.

It should be 40-0, but she misses a short backhand with Badosa on the run, dumping it into the net as she tries to go in behind. 30-15

Badosa tries to rip a backhand return off a second serve, but finds the net, and gives Sabalenka two set points at 40-15.

She only needs one though! Sabalenka seals it with an ace!

Badosa rips through a love hold to keep the first set alive at 4-5.

Was that her doing or is Sabalenka reserving some energy for her shot at serving for the opening frame?

But who is she rooting for?

Sabalenka powers her way to 15-0 but great hustle from Badosa, ripping a running forehand up the line and forcing the error from Sabalenka, gets it back on level pegging.

But a big first serve gives Sabalenka a chance to step into a backhand, and she coolly drills a winner down the line.

And Sabalenka holds in a hurry as Badosa fails to get successive serves back.

Sabalenka holds for a 3-5 lead.

Paula Badosa holds serve for the first time since the opening salvo of the match.

Credit to her for switching things up and sliding in a wide serve on game point to wrap things up.

Every point is a battle now. If she gives Sabalenka a look at anything short, the world number one is just drilling it and hitting winners or getting Badosa running all over the place.

Badosa holds for 3-4.

The world number one jumps out to a 40-0 lead and wins her fourth straight game soon after as Badosa nets a backhand.

It’s starting to look like it’s turning into a classic Sabalenka match now, and that’s not what Badosa wants.

Sabalenka holds for a 2-4 lead.