Madison Keys survives opening set scare to launch title defense in Melbourne
Defending champion Madison Keys, 30, fought back from a disastrous start to defeat Ukrainian newcomer Oleksandra Oliynykova (7-6, 6-1).
Madison Keys, Brisbane 2026 | © Zuma / PsNewz
The opening match on Rod Laver Arena was far from the straightforward affair the seeds might have hoped for, Tuesday. Madison Keys, the No. 9 seed, was nearly overwhelmed in the opening hour of her title defense.
Facing Oleksandra Oliynykova, a 25-year-old world No. 90 playing in her first-ever Grand Slam main draw, Keys found herself in a swift 0-4 hole. The Ukrainian utilized high-looping “moonballs” and deep slices to drag the defending champion out of her comfort zone, forcing Keys into a series of unforced errors.
The tension peaked in the first-set tiebreak, where Keys again fell behind 2-5. However, the experience that led her to the 2025 title surfaced just in time. The American reeled off a string of powerful groundstrokes to save two set points and eventually snatch the opener 7-6(6).
With the momentum firmly in her grasp, the second set was a clinical display of power; Keys dominated the baseline exchanges to close out the match 6-1 in just 28 minutes. This victory marks her eighth consecutive win at the Australian Open, a streak dating back to her maiden Grand Slam triumph last January.
Keys : “definitely nervous”
On today’s performance and the nerves of a defending champion, Madison Keys said: “I think obviously started a little slow today and definitely nervous… The moment they say, ‘Ready, play,’ it kind of all hits you in a way that I don’t think you can ever really explain to someone. But, again, as nerve-racking and as stressful as that can be, I’m still reminding myself of just how few people get to be in that moment, and being able to walk out today and have the crowd be as welcoming as they were, it’s, I mean, I’ll take the stress any day.”
“I think at the start I just felt like I was playing just a little timid and not really trusting my first instinct. I felt like I kind of kept changing my mind on what I actually wanted to do. I felt like that was really slowing down my footwork as well. I felt like I was reacting instead of having a plan of what I wanted to do. I think it was, what, 4-Love? I think it was, like, once I kind of got that first game, I kind of relaxed a little bit.”
Keys – Krueger next round
Keys will now face fellow American Ashlyn Krueger, who is 21 years old, in the second round. Krueger advanced earlier on Tuesday, setting up an all-American clash that will test Keys’ ability to maintain the aggressive edge she found in today’s second set.
Beyond the scoreline, the morning belonged to Oliynykova’s message of resilience. Despite the loss, the Ukrainian debutant emphasized that her presence on the world’s biggest tennis stage was about more than just sport, before the match. “I don’t need a big arena to enjoy my game… But I need a big arena to represent my country, to represent Ukrainians, and to tell people that the war is still going on and we need their support and their help.”
