Double-bounce drama mars Iga Świątek's swift advance to semis

Iga Świątek's dominance on the court is on full display at this Australian Open.

The Pole has dismantled every opponent thrown her way in straight sets, dropping just 14 games en route to the semifinals.

She hasn't come anywhere close to a tie break, and her emphatic 6-1, 6-2 victory over American eighth seed Emma Navarro was no different.

It leaves commentators and her opponents scrambling for how to describe her game, but one recurring term is "ruthless".

"She's really quick, and she does everything with 100 per cent conviction and intensity," Navarro said of her opponent.

"She's tough … I guess 'ruthless' is a good word."

Iga Świątek has dropped just 14 games in the tournament to date. (Getty Images: Robert Prange)

"On the tennis court you kind of need to be ruthless," Świątek said.

"Ruthless usually means that something negative also as well. But I think for me just focusing on myself and having the same kind of attitude no matter what the score is is important.

"This is what I base my, like, strength on and my consistency … maybe [it] looks ruthless, but it's not my goal to do that. I just want to win more and more games."

Controversial call

Despite Świątek's prowess, her victory over Navarro on Wednesday was overshadowed by a controversial double bounce.

It came at a crucial point in the second set, on game point for Świątek at 2-2.

Świątek scooped up a ball that video replay later indicated had double-bounced before she reached it.

The point should have been awarded to Navarro, but the umpire didn't see it and Navarro played on. She lost the point, which gave Świątek the game.

Navarro queried the umpire but was told that because she didn't stop play, she was denied a video assisted referee (VAR) review.

It's prompted her and others to call for a change to the rules.

"I think it should be allowed to see after the point even if you play [on]. It happened so fast," Navarro said.

"I don't know if she knew or not. Yeah, ultimately, it's up to the ref to make the call.

"It is what it is, I guess. It's tough to place blame on anybody. It's a tough call."

Navarro said she didn't think the controversial call cost her the match or changed the momentum of the match, but she didn't win another game after the incident.

Świątek said she didn't know in the moment if the ball had bounced twice before she connected with it.

"I wasn't sure if it was a double bounce or I hit it with my frame," she said.

"It was hard to say because, like, I was full sprinting.

"So I wasn't sure. I thought this is like the umpire's kind of job to call it, you know. I was also waiting for the VAR, but I didn't see it, so I just kind of proceed. I already focused on the next one."

But she didn't see a problem with the rules, which are similar to previous "challenges" where a player would have to stop play mid-point if they wanted a review.

Emma Navarro protests the chair umpire against her decision on a double bounce of Iga Swiatek. (Getty Images: Hannah Peters)

The controversy echoes a similar drama from late last year, when Jack Draper unintentionally hit a ball into the ground before it bounced up, clipped the cord of the net and trickled over.

It was on match point to win against Félix Auger-Aliassime in the fourth round at the Cincinnati Open in August last year.

That incident attracted plenty of criticism for Draper, who was forced to retire against Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open after prevailing in three gruelling five-set matches.

Double-bounce drama also popped up later in the day on Rod Laver Arena, when Lorenzo Sonego requested a review while Ben Shelton's returning shot was mid-air during their quarterfinal match.

The umpire confirmed the ball did bounce twice before Shelton reached it, and the American was heard saying "your point" twice with a cheeky grin after seeing the video.

Madison Keys awaits in the semis

There's a lot on the line for Świątek'. Despite her long reign at the pinnacle of women's tennis, the now world number two could regain her former status as world number one if she wins the Australian Open.

Madison Keys fought back from a set down to defeat Elina Svitolina. (Getty Images: Graham Denholm)

Świątek is a five-time grand slam champion, but by her own admission she has underperformed at grand slams outside the French Open, which she has won four times.

Świątek's progression to the semifinals dangles the tantalising prospect that the world number two will meet defending two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka in the final.

A grand slam final showdown between the pair has been something the tennis world has been impatient to see, especially after last year's Madrid Open, which Świątek won in a thrilling three-setter.

Sabalenka puts herself 'back together' Photo shows Aryna Sabalenka screams out during her Australian Open quarterfinal. Aryna Sabalenka had her back to the wall early in the third set of her quarterfinal against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, but the world number one stuck to a simple process to stay alive at the Australian Open.

"Well, who's gonna say now that women's tennis is boring, right?" Świątek said after the win.

But for that final to happen, Sabalenka will have to defeat an in-form Paula Badosa, and Świątek will have to take down Madison Keys, who is hot off a title in Adelaide.

Keys came from a set down to defeat Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday.

Keys trails in the head-to-head with Świątek 4-1, but she won their most recent encounter in Cincinnati in 2022.

"Iga is tough to beat because she has a lot of spin kind of naturally on both sides," Keys said.

"She's a good server. She's a good returner. She moves incredibly well.

Want more? Tune in to The ABC Tennis Podcast For all the latest on and off the court, join Lauren Bordin, John Millman and John Alexander for the ABC Tennis Podcast on ABC listen.

"The biggest thing that makes her so difficult to beat is because since she moves so well, if you miss your spot just slightly, she has enough time to recover, and then the point goes back to neutral."

Keys's victory on Wednesday puts her into the semifinal a decade after she first reached the milestone at this tournament back in 2015.

She said while her goal was still to win a grand slam, she has learned to appreciate her career and is not as fixated on the concept of living up to potential.

"If I could go back, I would just say to try to enjoy it a little bit more and maybe try not to put as much pressure on yourself," she said.

"It took a lot of the fun out of the game, and there were times where it felt paralysing out on the court."

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