Madison Keys' Jittery Australian Open Title Defence Begins

A nervy Madison Keys got the defence of her Australian Open crown off to a stuttering start, losing the first four games before rallying to stay in the title hunt. The American ninth seed was a bundle of nerves on Rod Laver Arena, but calmed down to clinch a 7-6 (8), 6-1 win over Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova. Keys stunned Aryna Sabalenka 12 months ago in a three-set epic to win her first major crown at the age of 29, but she failed to push on from there in 2025, winning no more titles. She started her season with quarter-final exits at Brisbane and Adelaide, admitting before the grand slam to being nervous as defending champion. “I’ve been thinking about this moment for basically a year,” said Keys of walking out on centre court again. “I’m so happy to be back in Melbourne. Obviously I was very nervous at the start.” Tumaini Carayol’s full report from Melbourne Park to follow.