The 2025 Australian Open women’s semi-finals are set to thrill fans as they take place on Thursday, January 23, marking a pivotal moment in the tournament. This year, the stage is dominated by top players, with the defending champion Aryna Sabalenka going head-to-head against her good friend Paula Badosa. In a separate match, world No. 2 Iga Swiatek will face off against the unseeded yet formidable 19th seed, Madison Keys. This lineup promises an intense evening filled with high-stakes tennis and potential for surprise outcomes.
Sabalenka, the reigning champion, is on a quest to secure her third consecutive title at the Australian Open. Currently, she boasts an impressive winning streak against Badosa, having emerged victorious in their last five encounters. Badosa, however, is determined to break that run, acknowledging Sabalenka’s prowess on the court. “She’s showing why she’s the No. 1 in the world right now,” Badosa remarked, emphasizing Sabalenka’s consistent aggression and intensity. The challenge is not only to face a world-class opponent but also to match her current form, which Badosa believes has improved since their last meet.
In the other semi-final, Swiatek and Keys are excited to reach this stage of the competition, as both are aiming for their first-ever Australian Open final. Swiatek, undefeated so far in the tournament, is yet to drop a single set, having only lost 14 games total. Her most recent victory over Emma Navarro in the quarter-finals included a controversial moment involving a double-bounce that could have shifted the match’s momentum. Looking towards her match against Keys, Swiatek acknowledges the formidable challenge, noting Keys’s aggressive playing style that thrives on faster hard courts.
Swiatek stated, “I need to be ready for that and be proactive and also good in defense,” understanding that the semi-final is a crucial turning point where every player has proved their mettle to reach this far. Both matches promise to be tightly contested as the players vie for a coveted place in the final.
The day’s events on January 23 do not stop with the women’s semi-finals. The excitement extends to the men’s doubles category, where British players Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara will look to advance against Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz. Their semi-final matchup is scheduled to appear on Rod Laver Arena, commencing no earlier than 3:30 am UK time. Furthermore, there is British representation in the wheelchair events as Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid pair up for the men’s wheelchair doubles semi-finals, while Andy Lapthorne competes in the quad wheelchair doubles semi-finals featured later that day.
In the junior girls’ doubles segment, an emerging talent from Britain, 15-year-old Hannah Klugman, is set to showcase her skills in the last match of the day on 1573 Arena. This adds another layer of excitement and showcases the diversity of talent competing at various levels within the tournament.
For tennis fans looking to catch all the action on show courts, the matches will unfold on Rod Laver Arena starting from 8:30 am UK time. The line-up includes Aryna Sabalenka (1) against Paula Badosa (11), followed by Madison Keys (19) facing off against Iga Swiatek (2). These matchups are anticipated to draw significant viewership, and fans can stream the matches live and on-demand via discovery+. The semi-finals are sure to deliver riveting moments, fierce competition, and possibly history in the making as players vie for the championship in one of tennis’s most prestigious tournaments.
