Before she walked on court to face Iga Swiatek in today’s second women’s singles quarterfinal at the Australian Open, Emma Navarro joked that she hoped to get at least three games, which would be more than she did the first and only time they met, seven years ago in 2018.

Ruthless Swiatek, who had dropped just 11 games through four rounds, had limited her last three opponents to two games or less, so it could be said that Navarro was aiming high.
Navarro hit her mark, but wasn’t granted anything extra as the No.2 seed eased to a 6-1, 6-2 triumph to book her second career semifinal at the Australian Open, and first since 2022.
“I think it was much tougher than the score says," Swiatek told the crowd. "Emma is a fighter so I knew she was not going to pull back. I wanted to stay focused until the end and keep my intensity until the end – I’m happy that I won these tight games and I think this is what made the difference.
“I’m really happy with the tournament overall, being in the semis is great and I will push for more.”
Swiatek will face American Madison Keys, who defeated Elina Svitolina in Wednesday’s first quarterfinal, next.
Swiatek owns a 4-1 lifetime edge against the 29-year-old.
“Madison is a great player and really experienced so you never know, the match that I lost she kind of killed me so it can be tricky,” said Swiatek. “We’re all aware of how she can play.”
Owning the backhand to backhand rallies with controlled aggression, Swiatek quickly pivoted to a 4-1 double break lead on a hot, sunny afternoon in Rod Laver Arena. Moments later the assault continued as Navarro netted a backhand to end the opening set in 35 minutes – 6-1 to the Pole.
At 6-1, 1-0, 30-all Swiatek had already registered 11 backhand winners on the day (of 13 in total). She was striking the ball pure and landing it wherever she wished.
But Navarro, who had come through her first four matches in three sets, hung tough and ticked a second game to level the second set at one apiece as she nailed a clean croscourt backhand winner of her own.
She held again for 2-2, swatting an overhead into the open court as the crowd broke out in applause, hoping that the American could make a contest of things.
Navarro wouldn't win another game.
Swiatek’s uncanny ability to take an innocent looking rally ball and stretch the court wide with a sharp-angled ground stroke was on full display against the American all afternoon. The five-time major champion routinely changed the tone of points with a bold stroke – daring to the casual observer but par for the course for shape-shifting Swiatek, who hit with pinpoint precision from start to finish.
“Once she grabs a hold of the point, it’s just tough to get it back,” said former Grand Slam finalist Mary Joe Fernandez, who was commentating the match for ESPN.
Navarro found ways to be heard in the match, notably by stepping in and whacking Swiatek’s second serve, and eventually earned her first break point of the match with Swiatek serving at 2-2. Swiatek punched a backhand down the middle that had just enough fizz to force a Navarro forehand error for deuce -- no dice.
Navarro, playing much more competitively in the second set, had a tough break two points later, when Swiatek locked up a game with an incredible get that replays later confirmed was played after a double bounce. Navarro protested briefly, but umpire Eva Asderaki gave her no love.
Rule states that the player would have to step the point in order to request a video technology review.
The disappointment of that moment, coupled with Swiatek’s relentless ground game, combined to yield another break for Swiatek in the next game, for 4-2.
Two games later Swiatek converted her second match point to lock up the victory in one hour and 29 minutes. Swiatek finished with 22 winners and 20 unforced errors, while Navarro had 15 winners and 22 unforced errors.
Swiatek’s 14 games lost through four rounds are the least of any player since 2013.