Madison Keys faced a daunting task to start her Australian Open title defense on Tuesday, as she took on an unknown opponent in Oleksandra Oliynykova, a Grand Slam debutant. The ninth-seeded American struggled to find her footing, losing the first four games of the match before eventually rallying to win 7-6 (8-6) 6-1.
Keys, who won her first Grand Slam title just last year, admitted that she was nervous about starting her title defense and facing an opponent with a defensive playing style. "I felt I was playing a little timid and not really trusting my first instinct," she said after the match. "I kept changing my mind on what I actually wanted to do. I was reacting instead of having a plan."
Despite the early setback, Keys found her rhythm in the second set, dominating Oliynykova 6-0 to level the match at one game all. The tie-breaker proved decisive, with Keys coming from behind to win 8-6.
The victory marked a welcome boost for Keys, who had struggled to find form at the start of the season. She had lost in the quarterfinals of her first two tournaments and had been searching for consistency. Oliynykova, meanwhile, made history by becoming the first Ukrainian player to reach the second round of the Australian Open.
Keys' win was sweet revenge after a disappointing loss to Oliynykova in their practice match last week. "I knew I needed to step up my game if I wanted to beat her," Keys said. "I felt like I played well, but she's a great player and always makes me work hard."
The win sets up a second-round encounter with compatriot Ashlyn Krueger, who had a dominant 6-1 victory over fellow American Danielle Collins. Keys will look to build on her momentum against Krueger, while Oliynykova will face a tough test against top-seeded Australian Ashleigh Barty.
The match between Keys and Oliynykova was a testament to the talent and determination of both players. Despite the early setback, Keys found a way to overcome her nerves and secure the victory. As she prepares for her next match, Keys will look to channel that same level of focus and resilience to propel herself towards another Grand Slam title.
Keys, who won her first Grand Slam title just last year, admitted that she was nervous about starting her title defense and facing an opponent with a defensive playing style. "I felt I was playing a little timid and not really trusting my first instinct," she said after the match. "I kept changing my mind on what I actually wanted to do. I was reacting instead of having a plan."
Despite the early setback, Keys found her rhythm in the second set, dominating Oliynykova 6-0 to level the match at one game all. The tie-breaker proved decisive, with Keys coming from behind to win 8-6.
The victory marked a welcome boost for Keys, who had struggled to find form at the start of the season. She had lost in the quarterfinals of her first two tournaments and had been searching for consistency. Oliynykova, meanwhile, made history by becoming the first Ukrainian player to reach the second round of the Australian Open.
Keys' win was sweet revenge after a disappointing loss to Oliynykova in their practice match last week. "I knew I needed to step up my game if I wanted to beat her," Keys said. "I felt like I played well, but she's a great player and always makes me work hard."
The win sets up a second-round encounter with compatriot Ashlyn Krueger, who had a dominant 6-1 victory over fellow American Danielle Collins. Keys will look to build on her momentum against Krueger, while Oliynykova will face a tough test against top-seeded Australian Ashleigh Barty.
The match between Keys and Oliynykova was a testament to the talent and determination of both players. Despite the early setback, Keys found a way to overcome her nerves and secure the victory. As she prepares for her next match, Keys will look to channel that same level of focus and resilience to propel herself towards another Grand Slam title.
. I think what impressed me most was how she regrouped and found her rhythm in the second set - it's all about adapting to your opponent's style, right? Oliynykova might be a dark horse in this tournament 
... but Keys' experience & skill will likely give her an edge. Can't wait to see what's next for Ashlyn Krueger vs Danielle Collins too! The Aussie Open is always a thrilling ride 
. She seemed really out of sync in the beginning, but then she found her groove and took control of the match. It's not just about having a good game plan, though - she also needed to work on building trust with her shots and being more aggressive. I mean, coming back from 0-4 down is no joke! 
But you know what's even crazier? The fact that Oleksandra Oliynykova was able to take the practice match against Keys and then have Keys come out strong in their actual match 
. It just goes to show that these players are truly talented, but they also need to work on those mental games.
I'm loving this Aussie Open so far! 
The underdog story with Oleksandra Oliynykova is giving me all the feels 
. I mean, who wouldn't root for a player making history as the first Ukrainian to reach the 2nd round? 
But what really caught my eye was Madison Keys' mental game 
. She was SO nervous about starting her title defense and facing an opponent with a defensive playing style 
. It's like she was all over the place, unsure of herself 
She dominated Oliynykova 6-0 to level the match. I love how Keys is talking about trusting her instincts and not reacting as much 
. It's all about finding that flow, you know? 
. On the other hand, Oliynykova's win over Danielle Collins was super impressive and shows that she's got some serious skills 
But, on a different note, I'm still not convinced that Keys has what it takes to win another Grand Slam... I mean, she's got the talent, but can she stay focused under pressure? 
I mean, who would've thought she'd lose those first four games but still manage to turn it around? 
and that tie-breaker is like the ultimate test of mental toughness 
she was so nervous at the start but then just took over 
and dominated Oliynykova 6-0 in the second set! 
Keys is on fire this season and I'm loving every minute of it 
This is why practice matches are so important... Keys was already beat by Oliynykova in a practice session, but she stepped up her game and won the main event 
, it's like she was feeling nervous or something about defending her title, but she stays calm and gets her game going 
she's making history as the first ukrainian player to reach the 2nd round of the aus open. gotta give her props! 
Keys was all like "i needed to step up my game" and i'm over here like YAAAS, GIRL! 
now she gets to take on ashlyn krueger in the next round and let's see if she can keep this momentum going 
. Can't wait to see what happens next! 
did she pay a huge entry fee or something? also, i'm curious to see how keys will handle her next match against ashlyn krueger. is she gonna keep playing like she did against oliynykova or will she revert back to form?