Australian Open: Defending Champion Madison Keys Overcomes Early Struggles to Advance
MELBOURNE, Australia — In a thrilling first-round match at the Australian Open, defending champion Madison Keys rebounded from a sluggish start to defeat Oleksandra Oliynykova 7-6 (6), 6-1 on Tuesday. The ninth-seeded Keys, competing in her 50th Grand Slam tournament, found herself in a deep hole at Rod Laver Arena, trailing 4-0 in the first set before rallying to force a tiebreaker against the Ukrainian opponent.
Oliynykova, playing in her first Grand Slam main draw, also sprinted to a 4-0 lead in the tiebreaker but failed to capitalize on two set-point opportunities. Keys, who has been open about her nerves in high-pressure situations, acknowledged the challenges she faced early on. “Obviously I was very nervous at the start,” Keys said in a post-match interview. “As nervous as I was… I’m really glad to be back, and that I got through that match.”
Unconventional Style of Play
Oliynykova’s unorthodox playing style, which included high lobs and strong defense, kept Keys off balance, particularly in the first set. Keys praised her opponent’s unique approach, stating, “My opponent today was incredible. She started so well. Such a great competitor. She definitely made it tricky for me.” The Ukrainian’s tactics, which have been described as “weird” by some, are designed to throw opponents off their game. Oliynykova, who is ranked 92nd, has faced skepticism about her playing style throughout her career. “Since I started my pro year career, I was hearing that I will not be in top 1,000, then in top 500, in top 300, and in top 100,” she said. “All these people telling me that I won’t be able to progress with this game style.”
Despite the initial struggles, Keys managed to adjust to Oliynykova’s unconventional style, finding her rhythm in the tiebreaker and carrying that momentum into the second set. “A little bit more of like an unconventional style,” Keys said. “I feel like that made things a little extra tricky at the start. I felt like at the end of the tiebreaker I really kind of found my game and then was able to carry that into the second set.” Oliynykova, who features temporary tattoos that wash off, remains committed to her unique approach, aiming to be the best player with her type of game.
Other Notable Matches
In other early matches on Tuesday, two seeded women’s players were upset. Indonesian Janice Tjen defeated 22nd-seeded Leylah Fernandez of Canada 6-2, 7-6 (1), while Tereza Valentova of the Czech Republic beat Australia’s top-ranked women’s player, 30th-seeded Maya Joint, 6-4, 6-4. Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens was also knocked out in the first round, losing to Karolina Pliskova 7-6 (7), 6-2. Stephens, who won the US Open in 2017, had to qualify for this year’s tournament.
As the Australian Open continues, fans can expect more thrilling matches and potential upsets. With her first-round victory, Madison Keys has taken the first step towards defending her title, but she will need to maintain her focus and adaptability to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.
