Defending champ Madison Keys mounts comeback to reach R3 in Melbourne
Madison Keys extended her Australian Open winning streak to nine matches on Thursday, recovering from a double-break deficit in the second set to defeat compatriot Ashlyn Krueger (6-1, 7-5).
MADISON KEYS, Australian Open 2026 | © Zuma / PsNewz
Madison Keys’ love affair with Melbourne Park shows no signs of cooling. One year after her “insane” level of tennis saw her dismantle the world’s top two players to claim her maiden Grand Slam title, the American returned to John Cain Arena with the poise of a veteran champion.
After a clinical 6-1 opening set, the match appeared to be drifting toward a decider when world No. 62 Ashlyn Krueger surged to a 5-2 lead in the second. However, with her title defense on the line, Keys “locked in,” finding her range from the baseline and refusing to yield another game.
The comeback was a testament to the growth Keys has shown since her 2025 breakthrough. While a younger version of the American might have faded under Krueger’s mid-match pressure, the 30-year-old simplified her game, erased the deficit, and closed the door with the kind of “suffocating aggression” that has become her trademark in Australia. The win marks her ninth consecutive victory at the tournament, a streak that dates back to her opening round in 2025.
Keys : “I still get to keep Daphne”
Reflecting on the pressure of being the defending champion, Keys remained grounded about the possibility of a repeat. “Everyone keeps asking if I’m gonna do it again, hopefully, but at the same time, no one can ever take that away from me,” she said, referring to her 2025 triumph. “So, whether or not I do repeat, I still get to keep Daphne [the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup] at home.”
Her next opponent will be the winner of the match between Karolina Pliskova and Janice Tjen.
