MELBOURNE – Defending champion Madison Keys kicked off her Australian Open title defense with a hard-fought victory on Tuesday. Facing Ukraine’s rising star Oleksandra Olhynykoiva in the first round at Rod Laver Arena, the American world No. 9 was pushed to her limits before prevailing 7-6(6), 6-1.
The match started ominously for Keys, who found herself down 0-4 in the opening set. Olhynykoiva, making her Grand Slam debut against a top-50 opponent, unleashed a barrage of varied shots – pace changes, high balls, and slices – that disrupted Keys’ rhythm. Trailing in the tiebreak, Keys saved two set points to claw back and secure the first set after 72 grueling minutes.
Keys regrouped brilliantly in the second set, dominating with her serve. She won 90% of points on her first serve, dropping just one game to seal the match convincingly. ‘My opponent was fantastic today,’ Keys said post-match. ‘She made me work hard from the other side of the net. Her style is unique – not what you see every day.’
Olhynykoiva, who hadn’t played much recently, showed remarkable poise for her first major-stage appearance. Keys praised her competitiveness, noting how the young Ukrainian turned the contest into a battle. With this win, Keys advances to face another qualifier in the second round, building momentum in her quest to repeat as champion.
The victory underscores Keys’ resilience, a key trait that propelled her to the title last year. As the tournament heats up, fans will watch closely to see if she can navigate the draw and reclaim the trophy amid stiff competition from the world’s elite.