Iga Świątek is into the semifinals of the Australian Open after battling Kaia Kanepi in a three-hour, three-set match 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 on Wednesday.
Świątek will face off against Danielle Collins, who took home a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Alizé Cornet, for a spot in the final.
At three hours and one minute, it was the longest match of the 20-year-old’s career at a Grand Slam.
“This match was crazy,” Świątek said after. “First set I think my mistake was I had so many break points, I felt like I missed my chances. In the second set, I felt like she’s playing so fast that I can’t be tight. I had to finish my forehands.”
The 2020 French Open winner was down a set and a break despite saving eight set points in the first. Down 2-0 in the second set, Świątek finally broke serve and ran off four games in a row. Kanepi battled back, winning three straight, but ultimately could not take the second set as Świątek forced a third.
On her first match point in the third set, Swiatek refused to give up, ultimately taking home the win.
Stress level during this match point 1-10? 😰#AusOpen
— wta (@WTA) January 26, 2022
🎥: Eurosportpic.twitter.com/JYuB3EeM9R
“I wasn’t even thinking a lot,” Świątek said of the match point. “I was just running. I was actually thinking, where is the biggest probability where she can hit the smash, for example. But I’m doing that every time basically someone does that. Obviously, it’s luck that you’re gonna go the right way. There is that probability, but you never know what your opponent is gonna do.”
Świątek has faced off against Collins once before, beating her in the quarterfinals in Adelaide last year 6-2, 3-0.