Coco Gauff, Madison Keys and Emma Navarro all carried personal streaks into the 2025 Australian Open quarterfinals. With Gauff bowing out to Paula Badosa on Tuesday, Keys and Navarro will bid to continue their runs Wednesday to set up an all-American semifinal.
Gauff entered the Melbourne quarters on a 13-match winning streak that included her WTA Finals title run and her United Cup success with the U.S. Keys brings an eight-match winning streak into the quarters that began with her Adelaide trophy run the week before the year's first major. Navarro's streak is specific to the Australian Open: She has gone the distance in all four of her Melbourne matches, winning each in three sets.
In addition to the three American women's singles quarterfinalists, Tommy Paul and Ben Shelton advanced to the last eight on the men's side. While Paul was beaten by second seed Alexander Zverev on Wednesday, Shelton will bid for his second major semifinal when he takes on Lorenzo Sonego on Thursday.
Keys seeks third AO semifinal
Keys' best Grand Slam result came when she reached the final at the 2017 US Open, but the American's first deep major run was a semifinal showing at the 2015 Australian Open. Keys also reached the final four in 2018 at Roland Garros and in 2022 at the Aussie Open, and now will bid for her fifth major semifinal appearance when she takes on 28th seed Elina Svitolina.
After beating 10th seed Danielle Collins and sixth seed Elena Rybakina, Keys faces a third seeded player in succession. Having lost just two sets this fortnight, her tightest match came in the second round, a 7-6(1), 2-6, 7-5 victory against Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
One month before her 30th birthday, Keys is winning with a re-tooled arsenal that relies on control and variety nearly as much as the power on which she has built her career.
"It's getting to a point where I feel like everyone's ball speed is pretty high," the 19th seed said earlier in the tournament, as quoted on wtatennis.com. "Everyone moves really well. ... It just got to the point where it was, like, 'OK, if I really want to stay competitive, I have to do something different, because my body is breaking down a little bit more.' I feel like everyone is catching up ball speed-wise. I can't just hit people off the court every single match anymore."
Emerging from the offseason with a new Yonex racquet and a new service motion, Keys is reaping the rewards in 2025.
"If you are going to rip things apart, you might as well rip everything apart, right?" she said.
Keys owns a 3-2 head-to-head against Svitolina, who turned 30 in September. Their most recent meeting came three years ago, also in Australia, when Keys defeated the Ukrainian en route to the 2022 Adelaide title.
Navarro's marathon run sets up Swiatek QF
Navarro discussed earlier this fortnight how trust in herself and her team allowed her to enter the Australian Open with a positive mindset despite an early exit in Adelaide. In Melbourne, the 23-year-old has also trusted her fitness as she's battled through four three-setters in succession.
"I love three sets! I love tennis so much I can't resist. I got to play three sets," Navarro joked after her third-round win against three-time major finalist Ons Jabeur.
Navarro backed up that result with a thrilling 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 win against ninth seed Daria Kasatkina to reach her third straight Grand Slam quarterfinal. If she is to match her semifinal run at the 2024 US Open, she will need to get past Iga Swiatek for the first time.
Their only previous meeting came in 2018 in Charleston, when both were teenagers and still finding their footing at the professional level.
"When I look back at my tennis career, I feel like there were not too many times when I was totally blown off the court," the eighth seed recalled of the 6-0, 6-2 result. "I definitely was kind of blown off the court playing her. We played at my home club in Charleston. I was, like, 'Wow, this girl is pretty good.'
"Circumstances are definitely different now. I feel like I'm pretty good, too. I'm ready for a good challenge."
For more from Melbourne, including full draws and schedule, visit the official Australian Open website.
