Madison Keys will get Australian Open title defence off to jittery begin | Australian Open 2026
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A nervy Madison Keys obtained the defence of her Australian Open crown off to a stuttering begin, shedding the primary 4 video games earlier than rallying to remain within the title hunt.
The American ninth seed was a bundle of nerves on Rod Laver Enviornment, however calmed all the way down to clinch a 7-6 (8), 6-1 win over Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova.
Keys surprised Aryna Sabalenka 12 months in the past in a three-set epic to win her first main crown on the age of 29, however she did not push on from there in 2025, profitable no extra titles.
She began her season with quarter-final exits at Brisbane and Adelaide, admitting earlier than the grand slam to being nervous as defending champion.
“I’ve been occupied with this second for mainly a yr,” mentioned Keys of strolling out on centre court docket once more. “I’m so pleased to be again in Melbourne. Clearly I used to be very nervous at the beginning.”
Tumaini Carayol’s full report from Melbourne Park to observe.
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