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1h ago

Madison Keys Rallies to Win Australian Open Opener After Shaky Start

The defending champion said returning to Rod Laver Arena left her tense at the start.

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 20, 2026 Madison Keys of the U.S. celebrates after winning her first round match against Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 20, 2026 Madison Keys of the U.S. in action during her first round match against Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 20, 2026 Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova in action during her first round match against Madison Keys of the U.S. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Madison Keys made a shaky start to her Australian Open title defence

Overview

  • Keys, the No. 9 seed, defeated Oleksandra Oliynykova 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 to reach the second round.
  • She fell behind 0-4 in the first set and 0-4 in the tiebreak before saving two set points.
  • The opener lasted 72 minutes, and she closed out the match in 1 hour, 40 minutes after a dominant second set.
  • Oliynykova, a Ukrainian ranked 92 and making her first Grand Slam main-draw appearance, bothered Keys early with unorthodox shots.
  • Playing her 50th major after quarterfinal showings in Brisbane and Adelaide, Keys said she had been thinking about this moment for a year.