Australian Open 2026: Defending champion Madison Keys battles past plucky Oliynykova

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U.S.’ Madison Keys celebrates her triumph   connected  time  3 of the Australian Open tennis title  successful  Melbourne connected  January 20, 2026.

U.S.’ Madison Keys celebrates her triumph connected time 3 of the Australian Open tennis title successful Melbourne connected January 20, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Madison Keys launched ‍her Australian Open rubric defence ​with a 7-6(6) 6-1 ‌win implicit Ukrainian ​Grand Slam debutant Oleksandra Oliynykova to scope the 2nd circular astatine Melbourne Park connected Tuesday (January 20, 2026).

Keys recovered herself successful occupation aboriginal connected astatine ​Rod Laver Arena, conceding ⁠a treble interruption with untimely treble faults, and portion she ​drew level astatine ⁠4-4 the American was past dragged into a tiebreak wherever Oliynykova caused ‌more chaos with her ‌deep, looping shots.

The plucky Ukrainian brought up 2 ‍set points but Keys erased the shortage with ‍some trademark big-hitting to yet snatch a tense tiebreak, punctuating her flight with a roar.

The displacement successful momentum was confirmed erstwhile ninth effect Keys went ⁠ahead 3-0 successful the 2nd acceptable and the ​30-year-old wrapped up the triumph ⁠on service to acceptable up a second-round gathering with chap American Ashlyn Krueger.

Dad-to-be Ruud acceptable to locomotion away

Casper Ruud is targeting a 4th Grand Slam last astatine the Australian Open, but helium is acceptable to propulsion the pin and marque a huffy dash location if helium gets a telephone from his heavy large wife.

The 12th-seeded Norwegian is into the 2nd circular astatine Melbourne Park but admits his absorption is not wholly connected the tournament.

Wife Maria is expecting their archetypal kid immoderate time and helium is prepared to driblet everything to beryllium with her for the birth.

“I person to convey Maria for letting maine spell successful the archetypal place. I cognize she’s astatine location resting, getting ready,” said Ruud, who has made finals doubly astatine the French Open and erstwhile astatine the US Open.

“Except for erstwhile I’m playing a match, the ringer (on my phone) is connected each hours of the time conscionable successful case.

“If she goes into labour I astir apt won’t beryllium present the adjacent day,” helium added.

“But that’s the mode it goes. There’s much to beingness than conscionable tennis, but I’m going to beryllium present for arsenic agelong arsenic I tin and arsenic agelong arsenic Maria lets me.”

Former satellite fig 2 Ruud plays Spain’s Jaume Munar successful the 2nd round.

Published - January 20, 2026 08:21 americium IST

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