Madison Keys delivered a stunning performance to defeat sixth seed Elena Rybakina 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 and advance to the Australian Open quarter-finals. The American 19th seed showcased her aggressive style on Margaret Court Arena, extending her winning streak to nine matches.
Keys’ Tactical Brilliance Overcomes Rybakina
Keys, 29, managed to neutralize Rybakina’s powerful serve and dictated play in the key moments:
- First Set Dominance: Keys capitalized on Rybakina’s struggles to gain an early advantage, breaking serve and taking control of rallies.
- Rybakina’s Second-Set Rally: The Kazakh 25-year-old bounced back, winning four consecutive games to level the match, despite lingering back issues.
- Keys’ Decisive Push: At 3-3 in the final set, Keys stepped up her aggression, breaking Rybakina’s serve before sealing victory with a blistering cross-court winner on her second match point.
“Her serve is such a weapon, so I knew that if I could just try to make at least some of her service games a little bit competitive, then I had a chance,” Keys said.
Rybakina’s Struggles Continue
Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina, a Melbourne finalist in 2023, had been managing a back injury throughout the tournament. Despite her efforts, she could not match Keys’ intensity in the deciding set.
Rybakina admitted before the match that she needed “magic” to progress, saying:
“It’s tough. I’ll try my best, but it’s not easy.”
Keys to Face Svitolina in Quarter-Finals
Keys will now face Ukraine’s 28th seed Elina Svitolina, who defeated Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1 to secure her 12th Grand Slam quarter-final appearance.
- Svitolina’s Journey: The 30-year-old Ukrainian recovered from a slow start to dominate Kudermetova and continues to draw inspiration from her country’s resilience.
- Dedication to Ukraine: Svitolina said:
“This fighting spirit that I have is completely Ukrainian spirit. I try to bring a little light, a little win for Ukrainian people. It’s the least I can do.”
What’s Next?
With both Keys and Svitolina bringing momentum and purpose to their campaigns, their quarter-final clash promises to be an emotional and hard-fought battle.
“Can Madison Keys extend her winning streak, or will Elina Svitolina’s resilience prevail? Stay updated with the latest Australian Open results and insights—follow us now!”
